《Path to Prosperity [LitRPG]》 B1 Chapter 1 - Worst Morning Ever Percy dragged his feet through the narrow-winding alley, clutching his chest tightly. He heaved heavily, trying to control his breathing to calm down. But it was to no avail. His throat tightened, and his heart continued beating wildly, sending streams of pain through his entire body. Is that how I¡¯m going to die? If Percy didn¡¯t know better, he could have sworn that his heart was about to explode. His heartbeat thundered in his ears, swallowing the sounds around. Percy noticed people walking past, barely slowing down and looking at him, but he couldn¡¯t muster the energy to lift his head and ask for help. Why did that have to happen right now? I should have listened to Greg. That old bastard was right¡­ Fuck! Percy felt even worse thinking about the old man who¡¯d raised him. It had been a while since that old man left the world, but memories of him were still imprinted deep into Percy¡¯s mind. Percy doubted that he would ever forget that old bastard. He was the only man who had cared about him since he could remember. Nobody else in this god-forsaken town paid any attention to him. Not that he paid much attention to the townspeople most of the time, either. However, the timing was problematic. Even now that he needed their help the most, nobody paid attention to him. Where the hell is that wreck of a house when I need it?! Percy didn¡¯t know how much time had passed since he entered the narrow alley, but it certainly felt like an eternity. At last, his throat tightened further, cutting his access to oxygen entirely. His eyes widened in horror as the strength in his legs threatened to leave him as well, yet instead of giving up, Percy moved forward. He didn¡¯t want to give up. Not now. Not yet. Percy had so much he wanted to achieve. So much he¡¯d never been able to do. His vision grew hazy, and Percy could clearly feel the last bits of strength flushing out of his fragile body. Still, he continued moving until he reached a familiar door, if one could call it that. It resembled a door but was no more than a large wooden plank attached to rusty hinges. Percy lost control of his body and fell forward. The door pushed open as he crashed to the ground. Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon. Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! His legs didn¡¯t obey him anymore, and the remaining strength in his arms was barely enough to push his chest from the ground. His arms caved in, and his head smashed on the ground. A wave of pain flushed through Percy. He would have screamed if he had enough energy left to scream, but the pain was exactly what he needed. It gave him a final surge of power to crawl to his nightstand, where his eyes fell upon a small, faintly glowing crystal. Percy tried to reach out to the crystal, but his arms were too short. The surge of power wasn¡¯t enough to push him from the ground, either. He could only crawl closer to the nightstand. Tears welled up in his eyes. He realized that he wasn¡¯t going to make it. Please. His arm reached out for the nightstand¡¯s leg. Please! And he pulled, using every bit of strength remaining within him. Please!! A final scream echoed through his mind before everything around him turned dark. Percy¡¯s grasp around the nightstand¡¯s leg loosened, and his body went limp. The small room, once home to Percy, went still. All that remained was the sound of the nightstand tremoring faintly. It wasn¡¯t a lot, but the nightstand was old and brittle. The leg Percy had pulled was loose and didn¡¯t require much force to be drawn outward. The nightstand tilted to the side. It wasn¡¯t much by any standards, but it was enough. The crystal rolled from the nightstand and dropped onto the back of Percy¡¯s hand. The moment the crystal touched Percy¡¯s hand, a dazzling light filled the room. The surge of dazzling light subsided after a moment, revealing pristine white strings of energy oozing out of the crystal. The strings of energy wiggled and trembled uncontrollably for a second before they burst into action. They charged at Percy and pierced through his skin until the crystal was sucked dry. The strings of energy disappeared inside the young man. Percy twitched once, then a second time. He gasped for air, and his eyes shot wide open. Sparkling azure-blue eyes greeted the world. ¡°That was, by far, the worst morning ever!¡± B1 Chapter 2 - Ego It took Percy several minutes to calm down. He had been much closer to death than he was comfortable with. Was I dead for a few seconds, or was I hanging on the last threads of life? I¡¯m not sure if I want to know the answer. I¡¯m alive¡­ Only that should matter¡­I guess. He shuddered and grasped his chest.. His heart pulsed faster than usual, but his heartbeat wasn¡¯t as bad as earlier. He was nervous. A slightly accelerated heartbeat was normal after such a terrifying event, right? Percy smiled wryly and chose to inspect the crystal. It didn¡¯t glow anymore. It was dull and looked more like a jagged stone at this point. The Awakening Stone did its job. Percy chuckled lightly but turned quiet quickly. After struggling desperately with his life on the line a few minutes earlier, he didn''t feel like laughing. Recalling the pain, he shuddered involuntarily. I knew gaining access to mana would be painful once you¡¯re older, but I¡¯m only sixteen. It¡¯s not like I¡¯m that old. Something like that shouldn¡¯t have killed me. But¡­ If not for the Awakening Stone to stabilize the awakening, I would have died¡­ Something was amiss, but he couldn¡¯t recall what it was immediately. He only remembered what it was when he thought about the old man and the things he¡¯d taught him from a young age. Right. It might be a little bit painful to gain access to mana all of a sudden, but it¡¯s not deadly usually. It only becomes dangerous if you manifest an Ego, but that rarely happens. Apparently, Egos were more common among the nobility. Nobles are a pain in the ass. That was something Greg always said. Percy shook his head, trying to get his thoughts back in order. If you don¡¯t manifest an Ego, you don¡¯t necessarily need an Awakening Stone. Gaining access to mana is a little painful, and you might faint if you¡¯re too old and filled with impurities, but¨C... ¡°Wait a moment,¡± He mumbled, ¡°What did I just remember?¡± The old man told Percy many things in the past. That old bastard also purchased the Awakening Stone, telling him to always keep the stone on him at all times. Most people would never even think about purchasing Awakening Stones because they were so expensive, yet the old man gifted him one of these little treasures. It was only now Percy understood why Greg had done that. A wry smile formed on his lips. ¡°Thanks.¡± Percy knew the old man wouldn¡¯t hear him, but the urge to thank Greg overcame him. He stared at the Awakening Stone somberly and put it aside after a while. Now that the Awakening Stone had been used it was worthless. The power stored within it had been used up to stabilize the awakening of his gift. I could have avoided this whole deathbed situation if I carried the stone with me. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.Percy reminded himself, only to shrug. It was a nuisance to bring a glowing crystal outside his room. Nobody cared about the things in his little chamber of poverty, but bringing a glowing stone outside wasn¡¯t the most brilliant move, especially since he didn¡¯t want to be seen most of the times he went outside. A glowing stone and trying to skulk through the darkness stealthily didn¡¯t fit well together. Percy heaved his fragile body from the squeaking bed and stretched a little. He didn¡¯t feel any different from before. If anything, Percy was still exhausted from escaping death. Still, he should be able to feel mana now. Mana should course through his veins, strengthening him, but Percy didn¡¯t feel anything. I do feel a little refreshed, but there is no significant surge in power or anything like that. Why? Percy had learned a lot from the old man, but he¡¯d forgotten much more than he was willing to acknowledge. Instead of acknowledging his lack of knowledge, Percy focused on something else. He glanced at the nightstand. It was tilted and looked odd. No. The nightstand always looked weird. It was brittle, and a simple kick would break it apart. That was the case for most of the furniture in his chamber of poverty. His bed was probably in the best condition. The desk near the blocked window, which Percy had covered with rotten wooden planks a few months ago, was still good enough, but its condition was not much better than the nightstand. Other than that, Percy had a small pouch with some copper coins and an iron dagger. The iron dagger wasn¡¯t extraordinary, but it was probably the most expensive item in Percy¡¯s possession. Of course, that excluded the Awakening Stone, which had been worth a fortune. Percy exchanged the fortune of the Awakening Stone with his life. Percy came out of that trade with profit, no matter how he looked at it. Good thing I didn¡¯t sell the Awakening Stone two months ago. Two months ago, Percy had been on the verge of bankruptcy ¨C not that he was rich now. He considered selling the Awakening Stone for a good coin to buy food and continue to rent his beloved chamber of poverty. Fortunately, that hadn¡¯t been necessary at that time. Percy found a drunk merchant in a nearby alley. He was dead drunk and had probably consumed something. Percy had helped the merchant to a nearby Inn and paid himself generously for his service by taking a few coins from the merchant¡¯s heavy pouch. He didn¡¯t feel great about stealing, but the merchant didn¡¯t look like he was suffering from poverty. The merchant had been chubby and well-clothed, and Percy deprived him of only a fraction of the fortune he found in the man¡¯s coin pouch. Percy didn¡¯t have to feel good about it as long as it helped him survive. Pride and honor couldn¡¯t feed him. That was a matter of fact. Greg always knew what I needed. That old man was prepared for everything! A myriad of images of the old man flashed through Percy¡¯s mind. The first image was one of the old man¡¯s dead body. A heavy sigh escaped Percy¡¯s lips, which was replaced by a faint smile as more memories popped up. The memories showed Greg teaching Percy a wide variety of things, such as reading, calculating, cooking, sneaking, survival in the wilderness ¨C the theory of it ¨C, flexibility training, and so forth. Greg transformed the arduous training regime into playful games, providing Percy with everything he needed. They might never have had much money, but Percy liked his childhood. It was filled with sweat and struggle but also endless fun. He didn¡¯t need others either. The old man was more than enough for him. The games and the fun were also part of why Percy took so long to realize that Greg was preparing him for something. Unfortunately, Percy never found out what Greg was preparing him for. The old man fell sick, and by the time Percy turned 14, he died. That was the same day Greg gave him the Awakening Stone. I¡¯m still not sure why he apologized to me so much. It wasn¡¯t his fault that we were poor. Percy¡¯s thin smile turned into a genuine smile. I will always be thankful for you¡­ I wish I could have told you that when you were still alive. The old man was the only person in the town who treated him nicely. But then again, it wasn¡¯t like Percy tried talking to the other citizens before. He and the old man had always been rather reclusive, and that didn¡¯t change much even after Greg died. Percy didn¡¯t see a reason to get to know the other people in town. Maybe it was about time to change that. He straightened his back and looked ahead at a vibrant golden coin levitating before him. ¡°So¡­you are my Ego?¡± Percy asked, observing as the coin rotated around its axis, revealing a devilish grimace on its back. A rush of freezing cold swept through him as he stared straight into the crimson-glowing eyes of the devilish grimace. ¡°Well, damn. If that¡¯s not interesting, I don¡¯t know what is¡­¡± B1 Chapter 3 - Understanding The coin continued spinning. It accelerated slowly but steadily until the chill-inducing grimace was all he could see. ¡°Come to me, you little disgusting coin,¡± Percy murmured and reached out. It stopped spinning when he grasped it. He moved his hand closer to study his Ego, only to see that his hand was empty. A sting was all that remained. Where did it go¨C...Oh¡­Ohhh! Percy¡¯s face lit up as streams of information appeared out of nowhere. They flooded his mind and brushed past his eyes. His eyes began itching as something popped up in the corners. It was a small icon with a golden coin symbol. That¡¯s¡­Not as weird as I expected. Percy could recollect that forming an icon in the corner of one¡¯s vision was common. Though, he might be mistaken. His memories were a little foggy. Fortunately, the streams of information were more reliable than his memories. They settled neatly in his mind, easy to access. Percy nodded slowly and focused on the icon in the corner of his eyes. A dark blue screen with information popped up before him. ¡ºPercy ¡» [Ego ¨C Coin of Prosperity] [Tier] ¨C [Mortal-0] ¡ª [Empty] ¡°Even the Messenger is telling me I have no family,¡± Percy chuckled once he finished reading through the information the first time. It didn¡¯t matter much, but Percy found it amusing. He didn¡¯t need a family anymore, either way. The old man raised him much better than many parents ever could. He was satisfied ¨C or would be if he wasn¡¯t dirt-poor. I shouldn¡¯t have a problem improving my finances now. All I have to do is study my Ego and increase my Tier. I can hunt monsters and earn a good coin by then, right? Percy nodded slowly while reviewing the newly imprinted information once again. It showed him what he was currently capable of and what he might be able to do in the future. I didn¡¯t know a Gifted One¡¯s Tier could be Mortal-0. Wasn¡¯t Mortal-1 the lowest rank someone with access to mana can have? Is that why I cannot sense any mana inside me? Because I don¡¯t have any mana yet. Percy considered the possibility, and it made sense. That means I¡¯m still an ordinary person. Hunting like this, in my current condition, would be pretty dangerous. As he ranked up, Percy would grow stronger and gain more mana. The mana would reinforce his physique permanently, elevating his natural power to a level ordinary people could never reach. Now, what can I do with my Ego? A new screen popped up. ¡ºCoin of Prosperity¡» Prosperity: 0 ?Consume There was no description related to the Coin of Prosperity¡¯s abilities, the meaning of Prosperity, and what he could do with [Consume], but that wasn¡¯t necessary. A second stream of information entered his mind, engraving everything he had to know about his Ego into his mind. Percy grinned as understanding dawned upon him, and he used [Consume]. His vision changed as [Consume]¡¯s power was triggered. Several objects in his room were shrouded in a faint hue. If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. [Iron Dagger ¨C Average Quality ¨C 53 Prosperity] [Leather Pouch ¨C Low Quality ¨C 1 Prosperity] [55x Copper Coins ¨C Ordinary ¨C 55 Prosperity] ¡­ Percy looked down at his body to verify that his clothes glowed dimly. Meanwhile, the bed, his nightstand, and the desk didn¡¯t change. No information popped up. They didn¡¯t belong to him. So the information streams are correct. Everything I own can be consumed by [Consume], transforming it into Prosperity points. But something is odd. The iron dagger is worth less prosperity than the copper coins. Fifty-five copper coins are never enough to purchase a proper iron dagger. I almost sold mine to that slimy merchant near Nighthound alley, who offered me 80 copper coins. It¡¯s probably worth more than that. A silver coin, maybe two. He stepped closer to the desk and picked up his leather pouch to empty it before using [Consume] on it. However, Percy didn¡¯t realize how sensitive his new power was and how excited he was at this moment. The moment he picked up the leather pouch, something within him stirred. A cracking sound reverberated through his little chamber of poverty before something burst out of Percy¡¯s palm. It was hard to describe because everything happened so fast. One moment, Percy was holding his leather pouch, and the next, the leather pouch was no more. [Goods worth 56 Prosperity have been consumed.] ¡°Fuck me,¡± Percy cursed. He was fairly sure that something eerily dark shot out of his palm¡­something with several rows of razor-sharp teeth. Percy shuddered and stared for several seconds at his palm, but there was nothing, no matter how long he observed his hand. There was not even pain, which he¡¯d expected after the resounding cracking. He swallowed hard and pressed his lips together, giving his utmost to keep his composure. One thing is for sure. I don¡¯t have enough money to pay rent anymore. Wait, wait, wait!! Forget about rent. This room is disgusting, either way. What about food?! I cannot afford food! Noooo!!! Percy wasn¡¯t given any time to sulk as another notification popped up before him. [Your Tier increased by one rank] When the notification appeared, something changed. His pores opened naturally, and something entered his body. Percy¡¯s hair stood up to its end, and the urge to run away awakened within him. Still, instead of running, Percy remained unmoving. He allowed the unknown to enter freely even if it felt odd. A cool gust ¨C or was it a stream? ¨C spread through Percy¡¯s body. It dispelled his exhaustion and invigorated him. That¡¯s what I was looking for. So that is how mana feels like? Like a cold, prickly gust? Percy¡¯s Tier advanced to Mortal-1. That was a pleasant surprise. At least he didn¡¯t fall behind every other Gifted One from day one. That didn¡¯t solve his lack of money, though. His grumbling stomach affirmed that. ¡°This is going to be an issue,¡± Percy mumbled, tapping his stomach lightly while looking outside. It was already too bright outside to steal a loaf of bread or something small from the neighbors. Not that he wanted to steal something in the first place. It was problematic that air didn¡¯t feed him as well as a good loaf of bread. ¡°Maybe I can eat Prosperity,¡± Percy joked, using [Consume] on his Prosperity. He had 56 Prosperity to use. But how could Percy use the Prosperity to quench his hunger? Was it possible to use Prosperity to earn money to buy food? The problem with his Ego was that the information stream only told him how to do the most basic things with his new powers. The theoretical understanding was already etched in his mind, but using the theory in practise was a bit more complicated. [Consume] showed that clearly. It worked as described but the process was different. Silverish-golden threads appeared in front of him after he used [Consume] on Prosperity. The threads connected to his remaining belongings, which wasn¡¯t a lot. A few threads connected to his clothes and the dagger on the table. ¡°The threads connected to the iron dagger are thicker and firmer,¡± Percy noted, his brain rattling as he inspected the glimmering threads. The threads connecting to his clothes were hair-thin and incredibly fragile. He ignored them and grasped the iron dagger, the thread attached to the weapon¡¯s blade, to be precise. [Iron Dagger¡¯s Blade has been enhanced. 30 Prosperity has been deducted.] Percy saw his Prosperity count drop to 26. His heart ached, but he focused on his blade instead of complaining aloud. The silverish-golden thread shrouded the blade and blinked twice before dispersing, revealing a polished blade behind. A single glance was enough for an ordinary person, just like Percy, to tell that the blade was sharper than ever. A shudder ran down Percy¡¯s spine when his hand coiled around the dagger handle. He grasped the dagger tightly, his eyes glued to its blade as he walked over to the bed. He removed the bed sheet on one corner and stretched it lightly before slicing it. Percy expected some resistance as he sliced through the bed sheet, but he found himself cutting through it cleanly. There was no resistance. It was almost as if he cut through empty air. He put the bed sheet back, as well as possible now that it was cut, and stared at the Iron Dagger, a seed of excitement blossoming deep inside his heart. ¡°That¡¯s crazy!¡± B1 Chapter 4 - Out of Town Percy¡¯s stomach roared relentlessly, dulling his excitement. I ate more than enough in the last few days. I haven¡¯t been this hungry for a while now. A few months ago, Percy was forced to starve for a few days. Today was as bad as back then, if not worse. To think that my biggest problem would be food. Some things never change, do they? He scoffed at the irony. His life turned upside down in the last few minutes, yet the biggest issue at hand was the same old hunger. He could magically strengthen his weapon and transcend the norms of the ordinary now that he gained access to mana, but his hunger clung to him like a vexing leech. Percy laughed and tapped his stomach lightly. He used [Consume] again on Prosperity. Maybe it could come in handy. What can I upgrade with 26 Prosperity? The dagger hilt is glowing, but it¡¯s rather fai¨C...Oh? My Tier is glowing. That¡¯s unexpected. Let¡¯s give it a try! [Your Tier increased by one rank. 20 Prosperity has been deducted.] A flush of cold energy entered his body, spreading through every corner and infusing him with power. A sudden cold overcame Percy, but he smiled through the cold as a wave of warmth filled him shortly. ¡ºPercy ¡» [Ego ¨C Coin of Prosperity] [Tier] ¨C [Mortal-2] ¡ª [Empty] ¡°Mortal-2? Upgrading my rank shouldn¡¯t be this¡­simple,¡± Percy was excited, but what happened to him didn¡¯t align with the old man¡¯s information. It was weird, yet it didn¡¯t feel wrong. If anything, upgrading his Tier like this felt natural. The first time my Tier upgraded was right after I used my Ego. The second time, I used Prosperity to upgrade my Tier by one rank. Both rank-ups felt natural, so it should have been normal¡­right? Percy was confused. It was general knowledge that Gifted Ones could increase their Tier by accomplishing various tasks. The most efficient way, however, was to complete Guild Missions and kill monsters ¨C if your gift was attuned to it. Greg mentioned once that the Gifted have to find out what they¡¯re the best at to progress faster, but how does that help me right now? Percy¡¯s stomach grumbled, and it was worse than before. His stomach tightened, and it hurt. That was bad. I can figure out if the old man¡¯s information was wrong later. I need something to eat first! Percy sheathed the iron dagger and attached the sheath to his old belt before covering the dagger and sheath with his oversized shirt. He cast a glance across his room before leaving it behind. The room was empty, and he sincerely hoped it would be the last time he saw it. His beloved chamber of poverty smelled disgusting, and everything was decayed or on the verge of breaking apart. Since I¡¯m already at Mortal-2, I might be able to hunt something weak near the town. Not much time passed since he awakened but he was already one rank higher than most would be after gaining access to mana. He didn¡¯t know how fast others progressed, but he doubted they would be this quick. Percy certainly hoped so, otherwise, hunting even the weakest monster would be tough. The wilderness was dangerous, and it was recommended that they stay close to the town if they held their lives dearly, but Percy had often seen villagers¡ªNormies¡ªroaming near the edges of the nearby forest. Most of them returned alive and unscathed, but there were also different cases. Bloody cases. Don¡¯t think about that. All I want is to kill one little monster. A few copper coins will fill my stomach. Though, I think I can eat a whole pig right now. Maybe I need to kill two little monsters. What is wrong with my stomach?! It didn¡¯t take long before Percy emerged from the narrow alley. He looked left and right, facing dozens of people moving around, taking care of their businesses. He ignored them just like they didn¡¯t bother about his existence. Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings. The waft of freshly baked bread reached him, twisting his stomach until the pain was unbearable. In a moment of weakness, Percy entered the bakery and was about to grasp some of the pastry to make for a run. However, the chime of bells rang through the entire baker when he entered. He frowned deeply at the bells, but maybe it was for the best. His greed dispersed and he slowed. A man in his 30s, well-built and with a sharp gait, emerged from the back of the bakery. He carried a tray of freshly baked sweets to the front, his lips parting for a greeting, only to discover a youth wearing torn clothes. ¡°Get out of my shop!¡± The young man barked instantly, ¡°I still want to sell my goods today!¡± Percy flinched and was about to turn around when his stomach grumbled again. He clutched his heart, endured the man¡¯s fierce expression, and stammered, ¡°I¡­I¡¯m going out to h-hunt, and I¡¯m starving. I don¡¯t know what happened, but since this morning, I¡¯m so¨C...¡± ¡°I told you to leave before your smell sticks to my goods,¡± the man repeated, but he was a bit calmer this time. Percy glanced at the closest loaves of bread and felt the urge to grasp as many as possible before running for his life, but turned around and left instead. It required a tremendous amount of willpower but he didn¡¯t steal anything. I can endure this a little longer. There are more than enough smaller monsters outside the town. Once I hunt one of them, I can feed myself, get cleaned and nobody will look down up¨C... Percy couldn¡¯t even finish his train of thought when the door to the bakery opened again. The man rushed out with a small pouch. A chill crawled down his spine, and his instincts told him to run, but he did the opposite. He stopped in his tracks and stared at the baker. ¡°My apprentice messed up some of the last batch. I cannot sell them anymore,¡± He said, lobbing the pouch toward Percy. ¡°Don¡¯t die out there, and buy something nice when you make it back.¡± The man didn¡¯t look back and returned to the bakery with fast steps, leaving a stupefied youth holding a small pouch behind. That¡­ Percy opened the pouch slowly and tried hard not to break into tears. Inside was a whole loaf of bread and some sweetened pastry. Everything was still warm and smelled heavenly. It doesn¡¯t look messed up. Percy retrieved the pastry and studied it for a while until his grumbling stomach returned. He took a big bite and his eyes widened in shock at the divine taste and his stomach agreed with a loud roar. Even the mana coursing through him resonated with the pastry¡¯s taste. His mana continued coursing through him, invigorating Percy. Percy clenched his fist and loosened his legs a bit, ignoring that his stomach grumbled again, demanding more. I feel a little bit stronger. Since he was rather fragile, it wasn¡¯t hard to perceive the changes in his body. Eating the pastry invigorated him. Percy grasped the loaf of bread and pulled it out of the pouch. He ignored the people glancing at him before they continued with their business and bit into the loaf. The crust was crunchy, yet the inside was fluffy. It tasted amazing as well. However, Percy paid more attention to his stomach as he ripped one big chunk out of the loaf of bread after another. He wasn¡¯t sure how much time had passed as the world around him seemed to disappear, but something was happening to him even minutes after he emptied everything inside the pouch. Percy felt¡­different after that. He was still hungry, but it wasn¡¯t as tormenting as before. That was good. It would have been problematic if Percy was on the verge of starvation on his first hunt. However, it was even better that Percy was stronger than he used to be. He made a mental note to repay the baker¡¯s kindness and not to judge someone too quickly no matter how scary they looked and acted before his focus returned to the essential part. For the first time since he awakened, Percy felt the full extent of mana empowerment and smiled. I¡¯m ready! ** The town guards patrolling the gates to the town didn¡¯t pay much attention to him. However, since he wasn¡¯t an Adventurer of the Guild, Percy had to bother the guards and ask them for a token of recognition. It sounded special, but the token of recognition was only a small wooden figure identifying Percy as one of Raewood¡¯s citizens. They grumbled and tried to make Percy¡¯s life a little bit difficult, but that didn¡¯t matter. ¡°That kid is not going to make it back here. Look at how fragile he is,¡± Percy heard one of the guards mumble. ¡°If you¡¯re that worried about that kid, you should have made his life a little harder. Being called an asshole and denying the token of recognition would be a shitty move, but at least the kid would have stayed inside. He doesn¡¯t look like he has¨C...¡± He was too far away to hear the rest of the second guard¡¯s commentary. Now, that isn''t very clear. Are they good guys acting like douchebags, or are they douchebags justifying their actions to look like they¡¯re the good ones? His stomach rumbled quietly this time, discarding his thoughts. ¡°Right. Food.¡± B1 Chapter 5 - The First Hunt Raewood was located near a small forest at the edge of a plains region called Meiso Plains. The same forest was Percy¡¯s current target, its outskirts, to be precise. A faint gust whistled through the air, filling the surroundings with a waft of nature¡¯s scents. The growing grass blades rustled around Percy as he paved his way to the small forest. To his left were the remains of lumbered trees and hoarse voices. If everyone to my left is relaxed enough to talk this loud, I probably won¡¯t encounter any monsters. Or they will attract monsters with their voices. Percy shuddered imagining a small horde of monsters charging him and the lumberjacks. The lumberjacks should be strong enough to protect themselves since they didn¡¯t seem particularly worried, but Percy didn¡¯t want to take the risk. He turned to the right and moved around the forest with enough distance to prepare for anything that would emerge from the undergrowth. Time passed eerily slowly as he walked around. The bushes rustled sometimes, drawing Percy¡¯s hand to his dagger handle, but no monster jumped out of the small forest. That was until he discovered a bundle of white hair amid a thick thorn bush. The bush rustled, and Percy¡¯s eyes darted to the white spot. He swallowed hard and couldn¡¯t hear anything, but his wildly beating heart as a bundle of white fur jumped out of the bush. The bundle of white hair had long ears and a small, bushy bun as a tail. It was a rabbit. Percy calmed down a bit upon recognizing that the monster was a rabbit. It hopped closer to the bush again and nibbled on something. It doesn¡¯t even notice me. How am I going to kill something like¡­this? It¡¯s way too cute! As if the rabbit heard Percy¡¯s thought, it turned around and stared at him. Percy expected the rabbit to turn around and flee at his sight, but the opposite happened. The rabbit¡¯s crimson eyes locked onto Percy and started glowing. A shudder ran down Percy¡¯s spine, and his heart beat wildly again. His drive to survive overwhelmed Percy and he retreated without thinking.. It was only one step, but the rabbit took that as a sign of weakness. It fleched its razor-sharp teeth, fresh blood trickling on the wet grass. Then it pounced forward, charging straight at Percy. You are not cute, okay? I totally agree. You are not cute at all! The rabbit was faster than Percy, who realized his life was on the line. He readied himself instinctively, his eyes glued on the ferocious rabbit. The monster was fast, but Percy wasn¡¯t as slow as he used to be. He grasped the handle of his dagger and unsheathed it¡­only for him to pull on his oversized shirt and get stuck as well. Percy¡¯s mind blanked, holding both his shirt and dagger in one hand. It was simple to solve that issue, but Percy¡¯s mind staggered before it turned blank. Nothing seemed to work, and he fell into a state of panic. He broke into a cold sweat, and his eyes quivered in fear as the rabbit accelerated. It reached him quickly, yet Percy was still frozen. Something changed only when the rabbit was right before him. Its crimson eyes stared at him, but not like he was an equal foe. It considered him nothing more than prey. Fragile and unworthy. That was all Percy was in the ferocious rabbit¡¯s eyes. I¡¯ll die if I don¡¯t move. The realization of his incoming death was too late. Percy took another step back in an attempt to flee, but he tripped over his foot and fell to the ground. Great fortune was on his side this time around. The rabbit didn¡¯t expect Percy to fall. It was at full speed and leaped at Percy to reach his neck, ready to tear his throat into shreds. But now that Percy was on the ground, the ferocious rabbit missed its target and jumped past him. Percy¡¯s head flicked to the rabbit. He scrambled to his knees and jumped up with trembling legs. If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. I¡¯m not going to die here! He clutched his dagger tightly and stared straight into the ferocious rabbit¡¯s crimson eyes. The monster charged at him again, squealing loudly. Percy had enough of the monster and grit his teeth. His lips parted, and a roar filled with terror, frustration about his uselessness, and anger toward the ferocious rabbit escaped his lips. He pulled his dagger upward. Whether it was his instincts, amplified reflexes or sheer luck would forever remain unknown, but the rabbit leaped at Percy again when he pulled his dagger upward. The monster dived right into the blade, impossible to evade mid-air. The monster shrieked in pain as the blade slid cleanly through its chest. Percy felt almost no resistance. If anything, the blade pierced too easily into the rabbit as the monster¡¯s momentum pushed the blade deeper. Blood poured out of the wound and onto Percy¡¯s hand. It was warm¡­ and disgusting. Percy trembled, and he was about to release the dagger when he heard the pitiful squeals of the ferocious rabbit. It was in pain and writhed desperately, trying to escape death. But Percy didn¡¯t let go. It¡¯s either you or me! He screamed in his mind, holding tightly onto the dagger. It was the only object protecting him from deadly predators like the ferocious rabbit. The only thing separating him from life and death. Merely moments passed before the ferocious rabbit stopped moving. Percy sighed in relief, but he was trembling all over his body. His legs caved in, and he found himself slumped to the ground a moment later. The rabbit¡¯s lifeless body slid from the blade and landed on the ground with a thud. Only then did realization strike. I¡­killed something. Percy stared at the corpse, a wave of nausea filling his mind. He shuddered and retched, but his empty hand shot toward his mouth, sealing it tightly. There is no way I¡¯m going to empty my stomach. I¡¯m not even full yet! He was still unsure what to think about the situation but couldn¡¯t afford to vomit his breakfast. Percy shuddered again, but the mana circulating through his body helped him. The surge was stronger than before. It didn¡¯t invigorate him, but a calming notion spread through him. Percy swallowed and stared at the corpse for a while until he was interrupted by new sounds. The bushes rustled again. A pair of rabbits, one black and one brown, emerged from the bushes. They looked as cute as the white one did at first, but Percy wouldn¡¯t let that delude his mind. These rabbits were ferocious and deadly, and now there were two of them staring at their dead brethren before sniffing the blood in the air. A moment later, the rabbits looked at him and screeched. Then they charged just like the white one did. Percy struggled a little to keep his body under control, but he didn¡¯t step backward anymore. He¡¯d learned that while the rabbits were faster than him, they were fragile and attacked with the same pattern. Percy guessed that they might change their tactic mid-battle, but he didn¡¯t want to give the duo enough time to overwhelm him. He¡¯d killed one of them and could kill two more. If not, Percy would die next to his first prey. The rabbits were not equally fast. The brown rabbit was slower than its partner. Percy used that to his advantage and did something that could either help him survive this fight or die a foolish death. He evaded the black rabbit''s pounce by twisting his body until it started hurting before using his remaining momentum to kick the brown rabbit with every ounce of strength he could muster. The rabbit was struck heavily and hurled against the nearest tree. Something cracked, but Percy had no time to appraise the situation further. His head flicked left to study the battlefield. Where is the other one? Percy lost sight of the black rabbit after evading it, but it was only a second before he realized where the black rabbit was. His left arm hurt from a sudden sting spreading along his lower arm. That was where he found the black rabbit, its razor-sharp teeth digging through his skin and deep into his flesh. Percy suppressed a pained scream as the ferocious monster tried to rip a chunk of meat out of his arm. The iron dagger in his right hand flashed and pierced one of the black rabbit¡¯s crimson eyes. It couldn¡¯t even squeal in pain before Percy twisted the razor-sharp blade in the monster¡¯s eyes. The rabbit twitched only once before it let go of his arm. It slumped dead to the ground. Your teeth are sharp, but my dagger is sharper! Only one more ferocious rabbit was missing. The brown rabbit didn¡¯t wait, either. It appeared near its fallen comrade, ready to attack. You¡¯re even slower now. Percy realized and jumped into action. He faked a kick similar to before, forcing the brown rabbit to stop or leap at him. Since the ferocious rabbits had been too aggressive from the beginning, Percy expected it to leap at him. That was exactly what it did. The brown rabbit pushed forward and jumped at Percy, where it encountered the flash of a razor-sharp blade that cut deep into the monster¡¯s soft belly. B1 Chapter 6 - Merchant It was odd. Percy knew that he should feel worse now that he ended two more lives, but the opposite was the case. He was relieved to be alive. His breath was heavy from the short yet intense exchange with the three ferocious rabbits, but he was not dead. I am hungry, and I need the money to stay alive. It shouldn¡¯t matter that they attacked me first since I planned to go hunt monsters, either way, but still¡­ They charged me with the intent to kill. There were trails of blood from the overgrown bushes, and blood had trickled down their teeth even before they attacked him. Percy didn¡¯t have to be a genius to tell that the three ferocious rabbits had been hunting other monsters before locating him. Seeing the rabbits¡¯ victim eased his mind, and his grumbling stomach did the same. Percy smiled grimly and stared at the rabbits intently. It didn¡¯t matter who attacked first. Percy killed them to survive. But even that wasn¡¯t what shocked him so much. Life is so fragile¡­ I didn¡¯t have to do much to kill the rabbits. Is that all it needs to take a life¡­or multiple? Percy looked at his left arm. He was still bleeding, but it could have been worse. He had been worse before. A bandage would be helpful, though. He didn¡¯t have any ointments or clean bandages to tend to his wound, but he wore a somewhat clean shirt. Percy removed his shirt and retrieved his dagger to sever the sleeves. He eyed the shirt and shook his head lightly after imagining what would happen when he put pressure on his arm with the shirt. It was not that dirty, but it wasn¡¯t clean enough to cover a fresh flesh wound. The insides are only a bit sweaty. Still, not great, but it¡¯s better than nothing. Maybe I can clean the wound later and bandage it properly. His knowledge about medical care was not extensive, and it wasn¡¯t like Percy had the means to treat himself properly either way. Percy shrugged lightly at the lack of choices and cut the sleeves open. He inspected the inside and pressed the cleanest portion of the cloth tightly against his wound. Percy proceeded with the makeshift bandage. It wasn¡¯t great, but Percy was satisfied. Better than nothing. Percy moved his arm and grimaced at the pain. The pain was a bit annoying, but he had gotten worse. Now that this is done let¡¯s check these beautiful boxes! His attention pulled to the three monster corpses and the interfaces hovering above them. [Berserk Rabbit ¨C Mature ¨C 7 Prosperity.] [Berserk Rabbit ¨C Mature ¨C 7 Prosperity.] [Berserk Rabbit ¨C Mature ¨C 6 Prosperity.] I can use [Consume] on them. Doesn¡¯t that mean my Ego considers the corpses as my belongings? The urge to use Consume and see what he could do with adding 20 Prosperity overcame Percy, but his intrusively growling stomach won the bout of urges. Percy picked the Berserk Rabbits by their ears and walked back to Raewood, where safety and a filling meal were hopefully waiting for him. ** It felt much longer, but only an hour had passed since he left Raewood when he returned with his hunting trophies. He walked to the entrance and nodded toward the town guard before showing the token of recognition. Since the crowds entering and leaving the town was usually low, the guards remembered him, but Percy didn¡¯t want to get stopped. The guards stared at Percy before their eyes trailed to the rabbits dangling down from their ears in his grasp. Percy waited for a second, but they didn¡¯t say anything, so he entered Raewood silently. That was simpler than expected. Still, being prepared never hurts. He nodded in satisfaction and proceeded while the guards rubbed their eyes. ¡°Am I drunk, or are those Berserk Rabbits?¡± One of them asked while the other chuckled. ¡°I wish I were drunk. Everything would make so much more sense if I were drunk.¡± Percy walked happily through the city. A few bustling citizens stared at him and the monster corpses in shock and disgust, but they mostly ignored him. He heard some shouting, ¡°Keep the street clean,¡± and ¡°Put those carcasses away, or I will call the guards!¡± but Percy ignored them. It would be great to turn Prosperity into copper coins, but it doesn¡¯t look like I can create anything from thin air with [Consume]. That means I need to find a merchant. Someone who can give me a reasonable price. His stomach grumbled again. When I get my first money, I will fill my stomach to the brim. This hunger is getting on my nerves. Since when has my stomach been so talkative in the first place? He grumbled, but the smile on his face didn¡¯t disappear from his face. He searched for the closest building that looked like a merchant shop and entered. The interior was exactly what Percy had expected when he saw the exterior design. The shop was well-kept, with several wooden shelves placed neatly inside the expansive room. Percy had never seen most items displayed, but he could tell what weapons, armor, and potions were. His eyes trailed through the shop until they landed on a display of metal similarly sized and shaped like playing Cards. The Cards displayed highly detailed images of monsters. One card even displayed a white Berserk Rabbit. This guy must be good at his job. If he has enough money to display Monster Cards like thi¨C... ¡°Get out of my shop before I beat the shit out of you, kiddo!¡± A dark voice reverberated through the shop. Percy flinched and spun around, discovering a middle-aged man with short brown hair, a ferocious face filled with anger, and a well-kept beer belly. ¡°I apologize if I did something I wasn¡¯t supposed to do, but I wanted to sell¨C...¡± Percy couldn¡¯t finish his sentence before the man smashed his fist into the wooden counter. ¡°I told you to¨C Wait a moment. Are those Berserk Rabbits?¡± The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. Percy nodded slowly, not sure what to expect now. The merchant didn¡¯t even allow him to finish his question, but the rage in the man¡¯s eyes had dimmed. That guy is scary¡­ But he is interested in the Berserk Rabbits. That¡¯s good. You better buy them!! ¡°I¡­hunted them this morning. Probably not even an hour ago,¡± Percy added. The merchant¡¯s expression changed again. It switched from rage to understanding, only to flip back to rage. The problem with that was that he was even angrier than before. ¡°Why in the seven hells are you not preserving them properly? Come here quickly!¡± The man¡¯s tone didn¡¯t allow any objections. Percy approached the wooden counter, awaiting a small bag with intertwined azure lines. ¡°Put them inside the bag.¡± Percy followed the order, but his attention drifted to the cooling sensation spreading through the surroundings. It wasn¡¯t intense, but the difference was noticeable enough. It was the most apparent when the Berserk Rabbits disappeared in the bag. A weak gust of cold air oozed out of the bag. The bag¡¯s inside is cold. Percy sensed something odd when he pinpointed the source of the cold. It was the same mythical force he¡¯d perceived this morning when he awakened as a Gifted One. ¡°That¡¯s a Bag of Preservation. Have you never seen one before?¡± The merchant asked, his voice much calmer than before. It was only now that he scrutinized Percy from head to toe. ¡°This makes a lot more sense,¡± He murmured in a matter-of-fact tone, ¡°The floor is dirty now, and there is blood as well. Urgh, this will be annoying to clean.¡± The merchant glared at Percy for a second but shook his head after a second, ¡°No, forget it. I told you to bring Berserk Rabbits. That is on me.¡± He studied Percy again and noticed his bloody bandage. ¡°So, you managed to kill three Berserk Rabbits,¡± The man said, his eyes landing on Percy¡¯s dagger at last, ¡°With that kind of dagger, it makes sense that you survived. It''s good you weren¡¯t desperate enough to hunt something with your bare hands. We wouldn¡¯t be talking if that were the case.¡± He chuckled lightly at his joke and clicked his tongue when he noticed Percy¡¯s deadpan expression. ¡°Kids these days don¡¯t understand good humor.¡± He sighed and pointed at the Bag of Preservation, ¡°This is an Artifact with an enchantment used to preserve corpses in the wild. They¡¯re often used by Adventurers who like camping out in the wilderness. Bags like this of higher quality have more space inside than you might think, but I don¡¯t think you¡¯re interested. You look like you¡¯re about to hit me if I continue talking about Artifacts.¡± You might as well tell me more. Percy was about to say, but the merchant didn¡¯t allow him to interrupt him. ¡°In that case, let¡¯s get to business,¡± The merchant cleared his throat and retrieved one of the Berserk Rabbit bodies, ¡°Usually, I don¡¯t trade with corpses like this. They haven¡¯t been prepared accordingly.¡± Percy raised his eyebrow, but the merchant continued. ¡°The nearby butcher could do that for you for a small price, but it looks like you had a rough day,¡± He chuckled, ¡°I will make an exception for you today. The next time you return to Raewood ¨C or any other town or settlement, to be precise ¨C you store the monster corpses in a bag. If you annoy the guards too much by running around with the bodies of dead monsters, they will throw you out of town or put you in prison for a day or two. They call it ¡®reflection time¡¯ or something along those lines. Keep in mind that you don¡¯t want to annoy the guards. You never know when you might need their help.¡± ¡°Either way, you can sell monster corpses at any Guildhall quite easily. The process is simple. Their butchers are great, and you can sell the whole corpse. Meanwhile, merchants like me don¡¯t trade with whole corpses. My business revolves around rare items.¡± The merchant¡¯s hand blurred before Percy. All he could see were the man¡¯s fingers digging into the Berserk Rabbit¡¯s eye socket. He pulled the Berserk Rabbit¡¯s eyeball out of the corpse. ¡°Treasures like this little beauty.¡± Percy had to gather his willpower to avoid gagging at the sudden sight of the crimson eyeball¡¯s loose end. This guy is crazy. How did he become a successful merchant? Something is wrong with him! Despite the thoughts flashing through Percy¡¯s mind, he was curious. ¡°What can you do with their eyeballs?¡± The merchant smirked, ¡°You can do a lot with well-preserved eyeballs of a Berserk Rabbit, but concocting potions like the Minor Rage Potion and Lesser Madness Potion is probably the most widely known use.¡± Percy nodded slowly, but his attention was drawn to something else. [Berserk Rabbit ¨C Mature ¨C 6 Prosperity.] [Berserk Rabbit¡¯s Eyeball ¨C Good Quality ¨C 1 Prosperity.] The value of Prosperity changed. If I wanted to, I could sell the eyeballs and transform the rest into Prosperity. But I would have to earn enough from the eyeballs then. ¡°Do you want to purchase the whole corpses of the Berserk Rabbits, or are their eyeballs all you want?¡± The merchant lifted his hand momentarily, gesturing to him to stop. He retrieved the remaining bodies from the Bag of Preservation and inspected them all while plucking their eyeballs. He grunted when he noted that one of the eyeballs was pierced and didn¡¯t even bother plucking it. Once done, he put the eyeballs in a small satchel with similar azure lines intertwined all over its surface. Meanwhile, the rest of the three corpses were pushed back to Percy. ¡°Their fur is smooth and sought after, just like their paws, but it would be too much work for me to remove them. I cannot be bothered. I won¡¯t waste my time with that stuff. I will give you five copper for the eyeballs. Take the rest of the carcasses and bring them to a butcher, or sell it to the Guild.¡± The merchant smiled, ¡°I recommend bringing them to the nearest butcher to ensure their freshness. You will get a bit more money. Furthermore, registering at the Guild will take a while, and I doubt your stomach is willing to wait a second longer.¡± Percy pressed his lips together but nodded. It wasn¡¯t difficult to tell that he was not yet an Adventurer registered at the Guild. If he had been, Percy would have had more common knowledge about monsters, the value of their body parts, and so on. Everything was new to him, and the merchant had given him valuable information. He reached out and accepted the five copper coins without a second thought. ¡°Let me give you a good-meant advice as a former Adventurer,¡± The merchant said, his eyes drilling in the deepest parts of Percy¡¯s eyes, ¡°I was probably as adventurous as you are when I was your age, but I was also naive and shy. I didn¡¯t know how the world worked. That is why I used my failures to improve. Failing is normal, but getting up and learning from your mistakes is what it takes to improve and become stronger.¡± Why is he telling me that? I mean, it makes sense, but is there a reason for him to tell me that? As if the merchant could read his mind, he burst into a smile, ¡°You should start learning how to negotiate if you¡¯re putting your life on the line to procure valuable body parts like a Berserk Rabbit¡¯s eyeballs. Five copper coins should be more than enough to fill your stomach, and the money you can earn from the rest of the Berserk Rabbits should give you enough to rent a clean room in a nice Inn. Buying new clothes and maybe an ointment for your wound would be best. You won¡¯t be able to fight anymore if your wound worsens.¡± Percy didn¡¯t like the merchant¡¯s smile but understood what was happening. ¡°If you manage to hunt more Berserk Rabbits, I will give you two copper for each eyeball.¡± A deep frown plastered Percy¡¯s face. He felt like he had been slapped in the face and wanted to ask for more money, knowing that the crimson eyeballs were worth more. However, the merchant shook his head, understanding what Percy was thinking. ¡°A deal is a deal. Heed my advice and learn from your mistake.¡± Percy sighed, but he accepted his loss. Although it angered him a bit, he understood the sentiment. ¡°Next time, then.¡± At least he had some money now. He could find something to fill his rumbling stomach to the brim! B1 Chapter 7 - Butcher & Baker Percy entered the butcher¡¯s shop, noticed that the butcher was alone, and spoke up before the hulking man could throw him out for sullying his products or staining the shop¡¯s furniture and flooring. Percy was tired of getting shouted at. ¡°Erdwin told me to come here with these,¡± He announced, displaying the Berserk Rabbits in his right hand immediately. The butcher looked up from his work and studied Percy briefly before his eyes trailed to the Berserk Rabbits. ¡°You sold the eyes to him?¡± The butcher asked after a moment. Percy nodded, which brought a smile to his face, ¡°To think this bastard let you inside with the corpses. He must like you.¡± I sincerely doubt that. He likes money. Well, maybe he liked exploiting someone who doesn¡¯t know better. The butcher noted Percy¡¯s expression and nodded understandingly. ¡°Don¡¯t mind Erdwin too much. He is a good guy, but he also knows when it hurts. That sleazy bastard probably lectured you after ripping you off.¡± Percy pressed his lips together and didn¡¯t move. The butcher hit the bullseye. The hulking man laughed and stepped closer. After fluidly removing one of his blood-smudged gloves, he offered Percy a handshake. ¡°My name is Kevin. Nice meeting you.¡± Percy¡¯s mind blanked out but subconsciously reached for the man¡¯s hand. Kevin first grasped Percy¡¯s hand with little force, fearing he would break the youth¡¯s hand, but quickly realized that there was more power behind Percy¡¯s frail build. He applied more strength until Percy¡¯s lips twitched. ¡°You have a good grip, kiddo.¡± Kevin praised, releasing Percy before he walked over to the sink to clean his hand. Kevin cleaned his hand thoroughly, dried it with a clean cloth, and slipped the glove over his hand once again. Percy followed the butcher¡¯s movements silently. Kevin noticed that. ¡°Don¡¯t overthink. I always wash my hands before I put on my working gloves.¡± Kevin pointed at the Berserk Rabbits without going any further into detail. ¡°I can dissect them for you if you want. Erdwin probably didn¡¯t tell you about my service and how I¡¯m usually paid. There are two main ways to pay me for my work. Either you give me a portion of the Berserk Rabbits or pay me for my service with coins. I recommend the former because I usually pay more attention to the valuable parts of the monsters I¡¯m working on since I¡¯ll be taking a portion as well. Of course, that isn¡¯t morally correct, but that¡¯s how the human mind works.¡± He shrugs. ¡°But then again, It doesn¡¯t matter much with the Berserk Rabbits. The basic service is probably not more profitable.¡± I need food, and I can''t pay him right now. In the first place, why does everyone want to get paid? That¡¯s a stupid question. Of course, everyone wants to get paid for their service. ¡°Can I decide what service I want once you¡¯re done?¡± Percy asked, his lips pressed together. ¡°Good thinking. Usually, I don¡¯t allow that, but we can do that,¡± Butcher Kevin grinned, which looked far more devilish than intended ¨C or so Percy hoped. Kevin¡¯s apron and gloves were covered in blood, and his butcher knife didn¡¯t improve his image either. One thing was certain. Butcher Kevin didn¡¯t look like a harmless sheep. ¡°Put the corpses down there and come back in two hours. I¡¯m still a bit busy, but I should be done by then,¡± Kevin said, the tip of his knife pointing to the counter to his left. Percy nodded and did as instructed. ¡°Thank you,¡± Percy said, realizing that he missed something crucial, ¡°I¡¯m Percy, by the way.¡± Kevin nodded, ¡°Till later, Percy.¡± ¡°I will be back.¡± Percy turned around in a hurry and left the shop. I¡¯m a disaster at socializing! Why didn¡¯t you teach me how to talk to people? And why in the seven hells did you tell me that the people here are all bad? Kevin is friendly, and Erdwin is¡­well, a merchant. Do I like him? We will see¡­ Now that he thought back to the past and the times the old man told him about the people of Raewood and that he had to be careful of everyone, Percy was confused. Was the old man wrong? It looked like it. In that case, what was correct and what was wrong? Percy ruffled through his hair, letting his frustration loose. Can I trust anything that old man said?!? His stomach grumbled again, distracting Percy. ¡°I know, I know. The only thing I can rely on is my insatiable hunger.¡± He rolled his eyes and reached into his pockets where his five copper coins were kept. Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon. Five copper coins won¡¯t bring me far. It¡¯s not nearly enough to buy food, rent a proper room, buy an ointment and a new set of clothes. Well, I can probably remove the room. The rent for the chamber of poverty isn¡¯t overdue until tomorrow¡­but do I want to go back there wounded? That room is a collection of diseases. I don¡¯t even want to know how many poor fellas died in there for the rent to be one copper coin a night. Percy shuddered at the thought and looked at the makeshift bandage. His arm didn¡¯t hurt badly anymore, but he didn¡¯t want to take any risks. It would be one of the most idiotic deaths to die from an infection less than 24 hours after manifesting an Ego. Since [Consume] told me the Berserk Rabbits are worth seven Prosperity as a whole, with each eyeball worth one Prosperity, I can assume I¡¯ll get five or more copper coins for each corpse, right? Probably even more. Erdwin would have given me two copper coins for each eyeball if I had negotiated. That bastard tricked me! He cursed quietly, throwing a small fit in the middle of the cobbled street while paving his way through the town. Whatever. Let¡¯s say I get 15 copper coins for the rest. I¡¯ll have to give Kevin a part of it. How much¡­I don¡¯t know. Still, that should leave enough for a room in a clean inn and a new set of clothes. A thin smile formed on his lips. He eyed the five copper coins in his hand and nodded slowly. That means I can spend everything I have on food! He rejoiced and clenched his fist in excitement. Simultaneously, the mana residing within him continued coursing through him. It swirled more often around his arm and cooled his wound. Percy didn¡¯t think too much about it, but he was glad that the mana inside him helped to mend his wound. Maybe he didn¡¯t have to buy an overpriced ointment. Now, it was time to eat something. However, before he could rush into a shop, Percy had to clean himself. His encounter with the baker this morning was still vivid in his mind. He didn¡¯t want to get thrown out of the shop anymore, so he headed to the nearby well, where he got a bucket of cold water to clean himself as well as possible. He looked at his reflection in the water bucket and sighed deeply. It wasn¡¯t perfect ¨C not even close to perfection ¨C but it was better than this morning. I tried my best and needed all my money to buy food. He won¡¯t be angry¡­.right? Percy wasn¡¯t so sure about that, but all he could do was try it. Thus, he returned to the same bakery he had been in the morning. He planned to thank the baker for his help¡­ because he wanted to eat more of his pastry. Percy was discovered even before he stepped inside the bakery. The baker looked at him briefly, startling Percy, but he gathered his courage and stepped inside. The baker first inspected him. He noticed the wet bandage around his arm and nodded slowly. ¡°You¡¯re still alive,¡± He said, retrieving a small piece of cloth that he gave Percy, ¡°Bandage your wound properly with this.¡± Percy nodded slowly and exchanged the bandage, but he didn¡¯t take another step inside the bakery before asking, ¡°Is it okay for me to enter? I¡¯m not sure if I¡¯m clean enough, but I wanted to spend my first earnings here to thank you for your help in the morning¡± The baker laughed and motioned him to enter, yet Percy was still a bit hesitant. ¡°What¡¯s the issue, kiddo?¡± ¡°I¡­wanted to apologize as well¡­¡± The baker looked intently at Percy, not saying a word. He was waiting for him to say more. ¡°I was so hungry¡­and considered stealing some of your bread¡­¡± Percy couldn¡¯t look into the baker¡¯s eyes and stared at the ground. His ears were hot and red in shame, but the baker merely laughed. Percy looked up in confusion. ¡°Did you think I didn¡¯t notice that? You were staring holes into my food,¡± The man cleared his throat. ¡°Since we¡¯re being honest, let me tell you something as well.¡± He smiled gently at Percy. ¡°The only reason I gave you food is because you didn¡¯t steal anything even though you were hungry. You looked like you were drooling at the sight of my food, yet you managed to control your urge to take something. You left without taking anything.¡± That was certainly not what Percy expected. The baker continued smiling and pointed at a small basket of cookies on the counter, ¡°Do you want to try one of them?¡± Percy hesitated, but his tremoring stomach won this battle. He accepted one of the cookies and took a small bite. The cookie was crunchy outside, but the inside melted on his tongue. The mixture of the outside crunch and the juicy inside was marvelous. Percy couldn¡¯t even find words to explain the extraordinary taste, yet he couldn¡¯t get enough of it. His eyes widened when he bit into his finger after finishing the cookie. It was almost like the cookie had disappeared from his eyes. He¡¯d devoured it before realizing it. The baker smiled and handed him something else. Percy wasn¡¯t as reserved as before and started eating right away. At last, his stomach was silenced. However, something else happened in his body once his hunger didn¡¯t bother him anymore. The mana residing within him rotated faster through his body. His stomach was silenced, and his strength seemed to increase as he received more food from the baker, one tastier than the other. ¡°Awakening your gift without money to buy nutritious food is troublesome. The mana entering your body is trying to change your body forcefully, improving it with every rank up. It sucks you dry and leaves you starving if you don¡¯t have the supplements your body needs to keep up with the changes,¡± The baker said suddenly, nodding at Percy satisfactorily after a while. ¡°Are you full?¡± Percy realized only now how much he had eaten. He wiped his lips and nodded slowly but paled, recollecting how much he¡¯d eaten. Can I even afford all of that? The baker chuckled at his expression, ¡°Don¡¯t worry about payment. You will be fine if you pay me¡­five copper coins.¡± Percy sighed in relief, fetched his fortune of five copper coins, and gave it to the baker without hesitation. Wait. Did he know how much money I had in my pockets? That¡¯s¡­weird. ¡°You ate quite a lot. The cookies are for the Gifted. Small snacks with more nutrients than most ordinary people require. Did you already advance in rank?¡± The baker asked, only for Percy to freeze in his place. The baker grinned, ¡°Don¡¯t look at me like that. I¡¯m not an Oracle or the like. Do you even know how much you¡¯ve eaten? No ordinary Mortal-1 Gifted needs that much nutrients to fill his stomach.¡± He waved his hand dismissively, ¡°There is no need to worry, kiddo. If you¡¯re hungry again, you can come over. Bring some coins, and you will be fine. Though I would prefer you to have new clothes and clean boots when you revisit my humble shop.¡± The man grinned and turned around to return to the back of the bakery, the smile never leaving his lips. ¡°Now get out of the bakery. I have a bunch of orders to complete!¡± B1 Chapter 8 - Testing Percy chose to leave the bakery once he learned the baker¡¯s name. His name was Leonhard Meiser, which Percy promised to remember. He was grateful for everything Leonhard had done. It didn¡¯t seem like a lot, but Percy knew the baker saved him lots of trouble. I need to hoard more coins to buy enough nutritious food for my next rank-ups. Five copper coins are definitely not enough to pay Leonhard for the food he gave me. Are five copper coins even enough to pay for the ingredients he used? He said something about the cookies being special and for Gifted Ones. Percy felt a little bad, but Leonhard told him to return when he needed food. The baker was overly friendly and much kinder than their first encounter in the bakery suggested. Still, Percy hoped to repay Leonhard¡¯s kindness. I met many weird people today. I manifested an Ego, ranked up to Mortal-2, nearly starved to death, met a kind but scary baker, went out to hunt, killed three Berserker Rabbits, was taken advantage of by a merchant, and got to know a nice, hulking butcher. And there is still a lot left of the day! He smiled. The day was not yet over, but everything fared fairly well. Even if he didn¡¯t have coins, Percy would get some pretty coins soon. He was more vigorous than before and felt stronger. The wound inflicted by the Berserk Rabbit clearly healed faster than it would have before his awakening. Being a Gifted One is pretty nice. His smile transformed into a shit-eating grin as he walked through the cobbled street. As for his destination, Percy didn¡¯t have one. He walked through the town without plans while his mind was rattling. Is that how I¡¯m supposed to feel at my Tier? Feels pretty good. Should I go out again to earn some more money? It would be pretty nice to¨C No. I shouldn¡¯t rush anything. My first hunt succeeded, but that doesn¡¯t mean I have to rush out to hunt more monsters right away. Maybe the next hunt will be more difficult. I should be prepared for that. Percy decided to wait for the butcher to finish his job to determine what he would do with everything. He could earn some coin or transform it into Prosperity to increase his strength. But before he could decide, Percy had other things to do. Coin of Prosperity¡­ My Ego¡­ I don¡¯t know if it¡¯s normal for an Ego to have only one ability, but [Consume] seems rather versatile. It doesn¡¯t seem overly complicated, but is that the case? I can transform my belongings into Prosperity to increase my Tier or strengthen my belongings. But what exactly is considered ¡®mine¡¯? Killing the Berserk Rabbits counted right away, but¡­ Percy picked up a pebble from the ground, nodding slowly. But not anything I touch is mine right away. Even as the merchant stored the Berserk Rabbits in the Bag of Preservation, I could see the interface. I could have used [Consume] to turn the Berserk Rabbits even though they weren¡¯t in my sight anymore. The crimson eyeballs of the Berserk Rabbits only left my possession after I accepted the five copper coins from Merchant Erdwin. Percy looked high up in the air and sighed lightly. He wasn¡¯t exactly a scholarly guy, and he doubted that he would ever fit that description, even if he¡¯d grown up in a better area or with more wealth. Still, Percy understood the importance of understanding his Ego and its powers. His Ego could change everything. It had already changed a lot, allowing him to rank up and strengthen his weapon. Maybe he would have survived without those advantages, but they indeed increased his survivability considerably. However, that was only the beginning. He was just getting started. Percy continued smiling foolishly. He checked the position of the sun to tell the time left before his appointment with Kevin and chose to use the remaining time to test his Ego. There wasn¡¯t too much he could do right now, but he had six Prosperity left and could test some things. Percy collected some pebbles of various sizes and some weeds growing in the gaps of the cobbled street. It would have been great if he had some food left to check what would happen if he used one or multiple units of Prosperity to ¡®reinforce¡¯ it. But that was something he could do later. Percy wasn¡¯t in a rush. As he strolled through the streets of Raewood, he reached some trees near the wealthier citizens'' district. He went down to pick up a broken wooden branch from the ground and inspected it for a while. That was when he noticed the small interfaces hovering above the pebbles and grass blades. [Stone Pebble ¨C Small/Ordinary ¨C 0 Prosperity] [Stone Pebble ¨C Small/Ordinary ¨C 0 Prosperity] [Resilient Moonlight Weed ¨C Low Quality ¨C 0 Prosperity] [Stone Pebble ¨C Tiny/Ordinary ¨C 0 Prosperity] ¡­ This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. Each item had a small interface, except the broken branch. So, for something I didn¡¯t hunt or purchase to be considered my possession¡­ I need to have it with me for some time? Interesting. He released the tiny stone pebble and one of the small pebbles next to each other and walked away. His attention remained on the interfaces as he increased the distance to them. The bustling citizens around him had to evade Percy, or he would have crashed into them. Fortunately, nobody beat the living shit out of him for not paying attention to his surroundings. That would have been a little troublesome. But he didn¡¯t run into trouble and returned to the two pebbles when their interface disappeared. The interface of the tiny stone pebble disappeared first, but it¡¯s there again. Is it still considered as my possession even though I was far enough to be unable to see the interface? No. It¡¯s not there anymore. The interface to the tiny stone pebble disappeared once and for all, and just a little later, the same happened to the small pebble he¡¯d left with the tiny one. Is there a timer? But that didn¡¯t happen to my dagger when I manifested my Ego. I never bought the dagger. Can items I didn¡¯t buy be considered my possession as long as I hold onto them long enough? I doubt it would work on Erdwin¡¯s goods. Holding them for a few minutes wouldn¡¯t transfer the goods¡¯ ownership to me. So, items that don¡¯t belong to anyone can become my possessions if I hold them long enough. That was possible, but it didn¡¯t explain how the iron dagger was considered his possession. He stole it. Maybe the longer I hold onto something and the farther it is from the actual owner, the higher the likelihood my Ego will consider it mine. That would mean¡­stealing something of immense value and holding onto it until it is considered my possession, which would allow me to use [Consume] and earn a ton of Prosperity, is possible. Percy shuddered at the possibility. It was only a theory for now, but he could instinctively tell that the theory was close to the truth. Of course, Percy could test his theory to prove it, but he didn¡¯t plan to steal anything. He shuddered and discarded the idea of stealing something valuable to transform it into Prosperity. Instead, Percy devoted himself to another experiment. He used [Consume] on Prosperity to change the world around him. Dozens of silverish-golden threads manifested around him. He was already familiar with a few threads connected to his clothes and the iron dagger, but there were also multiple new threads. They were smaller and dimmer, much more challenging to notice than the thin threads connected to his clothes, yet Percy was the most interested in them. What will happen if Prosperity is used on a pebble? Applying Prosperity on the dagger¡¯s blade made it sharper and more durable. Will the pebble¡¯s durability increase? Or will there be a unique effect? Percy didn¡¯t know, but he wanted to find out. He didn¡¯t really have enough Prosperity to waste on experiments, but the old man explained to him hundreds of times how powerful knowledge was. It was necessary to understand his powers and use them in the most efficient way possible in the future. He tapped the only silverish-golden thread connected to the small stone pebble and sensed his Prosperity count change. It went down from six to five. [Stone Pebble¡¯s durability has been enhanced. 1 Prosperity has been deducted.] It worked. Percy noted, but he didn¡¯t smile. The notification said the pebble¡¯s durability increased, but a large crack formed on its surface. [Stone Pebble ¨C Small/Ordinary ¨C 0 Prosperity] Not even the interface changed. Shouldn¡¯t it show 1 Prosperity? It didn¡¯t feel like the stone pebble grew stronger. To confirm his suspicion, Percy used one more Prosperity. [Stone Pebble¡¯s durability has been enhanced. 1 Prosperity has been deducted.] The interface said it worked, but the stone shattered in Percy¡¯s hand. He didn¡¯t even apply any strength to test the increase in durability. It broke¡­Why though? Will the same happen to the iron dagger if I use too much Prosperity to strengthen the blade? Is there a limit on how much Prosperity I can use on the iron dagger? What are the limiting factors, though? Is it the size, the item¡¯s quality, or the material? It could be all of it combined. Percy tilted his head and glanced at the Resilient Moonlight Weed. It was below average in quality, but it was connected to multiple silverish-golden threads. Let¡¯s use one more Prosperity. After that, I will delay my experiments until I have more Prosperity. [Resilient Moonlight Weed¡¯s growth has been accelerated. 1 Prosperity has been deducted.] The Resilient Moonlight Weed in Percy¡¯s hand twitched and writhed as if in pain. It wiggled around briefly and grew by an inch before it stopped moving altogether. Percy glanced at the interface. [Resilient Moonlight Weed ¨C Low Quality ¨C 0 Prosperity] Nothing changed. Well, except that the weed looks worse than before. It withered. Percy recalled Baker Leonhard¡¯s talk about nutrients and the like and nodded in understanding. The remaining nutrients within the weed stimulated its growth. If it had been in nutritious soil, it would have grown even faster. It''s good that I plucked it. There is already enough Moonlight Weed in Raewood. The urge to experiment was there, but Percy held back from doing something stupid. Wasting any more Prosperity would be stupid¡­even more foolish than using two Prosperity to break a small pebble, and one on accelerating the growth of a pesky plant that can be found everywhere¡­ Percy might have wasted some Prosperity, but he didn¡¯t feel too bad about it. He learned a lot. Fortunately, he wasn¡¯t given time to use more Prosperity to crush pebbles. He had an appointment with a butcher. B1 Chapter 9 - Money The first thing Percy discovered in the butcher¡¯s little shop was a pile of interfaces. They¡¯re still considered mine even though I was nowhere near the Berserk Rabbits while strolling around. Percy made a mental note and checked the interfaces. [Berserk Rabbit Pelt ¨C Good Quality ¨C 2 Prosperity] [Berserk Rabbit Paw ¨C Good Quality ¨C 1 Prosperity] [Berserk Rabbit Meat ¨C Good Quality ¨C 1 Prosperity] [Berserk Rabbit Organs ¨C Good Quality ¨C 0 Prosperity] [Berserk Rabbit Bones ¨C Clean/Good Quality ¨C 0 Prosperity] [Berserk Rabbit Brain ¨C Good Quality ¨C 0 Prosperity] ¡­ [Berserk Rabbit Pelt ¨C Excellent Quality ¨C 3 Prosperity] A headache assaulted Percy at the number of interfaces unfolding before him, but he got the hang of it quickly. He dismissed the interfaces with 0 Prosperity, leaving him with three interfaces from each dissected Berserk Rabbit. Only their meat, pelt, and paw were worth Prosperity. They¡¯re not worth 15 Prosperity anymore. Percy tilted his head, attracting Kevin¡¯s attention. The butcher didn¡¯t say anything but smiled at the youth. It wasn¡¯t difficult to tell that Percy was deep in thought. The first three interfaces amount to four Prosperity, but all Berserk Rabbits were worth five Prosperity without their eyes. ¡°How much are the bones, brains, and organs of Berserk Rabbits usually worth?¡± Percy asked before anything. The smiling butcher raised an eyebrow in response. ¡°You¡¯re a weird kid, but your eyes must be pretty good to tell the least valuable parts of the Berserk Rabbit. Their meat, paws, and pelt are the most valuable. But you should still be able to earn a handful of copper coins for the rest. Some inns buy the brains and organs, and the Alchemists buy their bones occasionally.¡± Is the missing Prosperity distributed among the bones, brains, and organs? It was possible, but Percy wasn¡¯t sure. ¡°They might not be worth enough¡­but are they valuable enough to pay for your service?¡± He asked with a hint of a smile and a trace of embarrassment. He had no negotiation skills, and his lack of understanding of a butcher¡¯s prices certainly didn¡¯t help him sound confident. Kevin laughed but accepted him instantly. He inspected Percy for a few more seconds before nodding, ¡°Deal. But you also have to sell me their meat for a discounted price. Don¡¯t look at me like I punched you in the gut. I¡¯m probably making a loss with that deal. One of the Berserk Rabbit¡¯s pelts is of better quality than the rest. Don¡¯t worry, you will earn more than enough!¡± ¡°That doesn¡¯t sound too bad,¡± Percy nodded reluctantly. He needed money, but seeing the interfaces made it harder for him to sell anything that could earn him Prosperity. ¡°I will give you six copper coins for the meat. That¡¯s after the discount I added to my workload. I was extra careful with the pelts and paws, so you should get good money for them at the Guild. But maybe it might be a better idea to revisit Erdwin. He can probably give you more than the Guild if you don¡¯t let him exploit you. Ask him for 35 copper coins when you show the pelts and paws. Negotiate with him nicely, but don¡¯t let him bulldoze you, and you will be fine.¡± He might not be able to get 35 copper coins from someone like Erdwin ¨C not with his current negotiation skills ¨C, but it would be great if the pelts and paws earned him another 25 copper coins. His profits would be extraordinary in that case. Percy agreed to the trade and earned a small pouch with six copper coins. ¡°I noticed you were missing a pouch earlier. You can keep it,¡± Kevin said lightly. Two new interfaces appeared before Percy. [6x Copper Coins ¨C Ordinary ¨C 6 Prosperity] [Leather Pouch ¨C Low Quality ¨C 1 Prosperity] Percy obtained even more than expected, but that was not all. Kevin retrieved a clean cloth and carefully packaged the paws and pelts inside it before putting them down on the counter for Percy to take. Percy grasped the cloth with a bright smile, his thoughts running wild. If I can get another 25 copper coins for the paws and pelts, I will be rich! And if I transfer the money I¡¯ve earned into Prosperity, I could earn more than I would have earned if I used [Consume] on the Berserk Rabbits outside the town! You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version. That didn¡¯t mean Percy would turn his copper coins into Prosperity, but it showed a more efficient way to earn Prosperity. Converting copper coins into Prosperity looked like his best option, at least for now. ¡°Earning money feels nice, doesn¡¯t it?¡± Kevin teased Percy, who agreed readily. ¡°Come to me if you have more monsters to butcher. I will give you a good price.¡± Percy thanked Kevin multiple times, still grinning, and left the shop to travel to his next target. He returned to Erdwin¡¯s shop. The trip didn¡¯t take long, but it felt like an eternity as the excitement in his heart rose. He was about to earn a small fortune. Other than that, Percy felt good to be walking around the town. It was the first time he did something like that. Nonchalantly walking through the town, bathing in sunlight. Merchant Erdwin noticed him the moment he entered the shop. However, he was busy with another customer. Percy approached the counter and unpacked Kevin¡¯s cloth. He laid the pelts and paws out neatly and waited patiently until it was his turn. In the meantime, the experiment with his Ego continued. His hand reached out for a small red vial, and he held it until Erdwin sold his customer a broadsword. Erdwin was in a good mood and didn¡¯t question what Percy was doing with the vial. Nonetheless, he put it back to where it belonged. It would be wrong if he broke the vial by accident. He didn¡¯t have the budget to buy potions yet. ¡°What do we have here?¡± Erdwin asked, inspecting the pelts and paws, only for Percy to pull the merchant¡¯s attention to him with a gesture. ¡°I want 35 copper coins for the pelts and paws. I know they¡¯re worth that much!¡± He declared. Erdwin raised an eyebrow but inspected the pelts again, ¡°Did Kevin say that? To think he would finish this so quickly and give you some advice. Good job.¡± Despite being praised, Percy was far from happy. He swallowed hard and noticed that he was breaking into a sweat. Dealing with Erdwin was more taxing than fighting the Berserk Rabbits. ¡°I won¡¯t give you 35 copper coins, though,¡± The merchant shook his head, ¡°You can try it in the Guildhall, but their price will be lower than mine. I can give you 20 copper coins.¡± Percy pressed his lips together and wiped his sweat. ¡°One of the pelts is of excellent quality. You can sell it for a lot more than the rest. Thirty-five copper coins are a fair price. You took advantage of me before!¡± ¡°Your impatience and hunger influenced your mind. I offered five copper coins for the Berserk Rabbit¡¯s eyes. I never forced you to accept my offer,¡± The merchant clicked his tongue but gave him a new offer, ¡°Okay, I will give you 25 copper coins.¡± Erdwin glanced at Percy, the corner of his lips twitching. Percy wouldn¡¯t have noticed that if he hadn¡¯t been paying attention to the man opposite him. He knows that I¡¯m a rookie. You bastard! He felt like shouting at the merchant but continued cursing in his mind instead. ¡°I made a big mistake this morning,¡± Percy acknowledged, ¡°That¡¯s why I can accept 32 copper coins for everything.¡± Erdwin studied Percy intently, forcing the youth to maintain eye contact. Percy knew instinctively that looking away would be equivalent to surrendering. But he didn¡¯t want to surrender. He was unwilling to lose this battle of wits! ¡°Since I don¡¯t want you to collapse in my little shop or to flood my shop with your sweat, I¡¯ll give you 30 copper coins. Take it, or go to the Guildhall, but remember I won¡¯t offer you 30 copper coins anymore.¡± Should I give the Guildhall a try? But will they give me more? Maybe I can get more than 30 copper coins from Erdwin if I continue negotiating, but do I want to displease him? He has pretty good stuff in his shop. The other merchants are not equipped like Erdwin. They focus more on ¡®ordinary¡¯ stuff. Percy thought about it for a second and came to a decision. ¡°30 copper coins it is.¡± If it were this morning, Percy would have sold the Berserk Rabbit corpses for 20 copper coins since that was how much Prosperity he would have gotten. But now he¡¯d earned 41 copper coins, which included the money he earned when he¡¯d been taken advantage of. Percy smiled brightly and stretched his hand out to receive the copper coins. He licked his lips, his azure-blue eyes twinkling brightly. ¡°Your eyes are¡­¡± Merchant Erdwin mumbled, his eyes narrowing to tiny slits. ¡°Don¡¯t try to distract me! I can count, and I will make sure you give me the right amount!¡± Percy interrupted the merchant, unwilling to wait any longer. Erdwin scowled but remained silent. He retrieved six small piles of five copper coins. Percy lunged at them and hurriedly stored them in his little leather pouch. His eyes glimmered in excitement observing the interface as it updated. [36x Copper Coins ¨C Ordinary ¨C 36 Prosperity] That¡¯s definitely enough to buy some clothes, rent a proper lodge for the night, and maybe a bag. I don¡¯t really want to get thrown out of the town now that I¡¯m making friends. He caught himself deep in thought and tilted his head as his eyes fell on Erdwin, who stored the pelts and paws. Maybe not everyone is a friend. Or is he? He gave me a lecture and helped me negotiate. But then again, I¡¯m pretty sure he profited from the pelts and paws. The Guildhall would have given me less though. Maybe the other merchants as well. Percy was not sure what he should think about Erdwin. The merchant wasn¡¯t really a bad guy. He did his job well, which was obvious. Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have a shop full of unique goods. I guess I will see what he is. I''ll be fine as long as he doesn¡¯t turn into an enemy. ¡°What do you think of the Bag of Preservation? I can sell you a used one for five silver coins,¡± Erdwin asked, fully understanding that Percy didn¡¯t have the money. ¡°Are you making fun of me for being poor?!¡± Percy asked, his smile wiped away. Erdwin shrugged, ¡°I was only trying to make a special offer to our soon-to-be Adventurer.¡± Maybe if the merchant hadn¡¯t been smiling deviously at him, Percy would have believed him. Forget it. He¡¯s a bad guy. May lightning strike you or a Dragon release a load of poop on your roof! B1 Chapter 10 - Inn Percy left Erdwin¡¯s shop without any further delay. He moved to another merchant¡¯s shop and purchased the things he needed for a more feasible price. Almost everything was cheaper than in Erdwin¡¯s shop, but Percy also noticed a noticeable difference in quality. Erdwin¡¯s goods were of much higher quality. Quality was nice, but Percy didn¡¯t have enough coins just yet. Instead, he spent five copper coins to buy two sets of clothes and a large leather bag. [Set of Clothes(Linen)¨C Average Quality¨C 0 Prosperity] [Set of Clothes(Linen)¨C Average Quality¨C 0 Prosperity] [Leather Bag ¨C Low Quality¨C 1 Prosperity] Only one Prosperity? I could have earned five if I didn¡¯t buy those clothes¡­ Despite complaining, Percy purchased the clothes and the bag. He changed his clothes in the shop¡¯s changing room ¨C a small room right next to the shop¡¯s main room ¨C and threw his old, dirty, and torn clothes away without hesitation. The clothes stayed by his side for a while, but Percy felt the gust of change shroud him. Things were slowly changing. Percy was changing. What now? Percy yawned, stretching his body lightly to feel his clothes better. His attention fell upon some leather boots, but the price tag scared him slightly. I won¡¯t spend half my fortune on new boots if my old ones are still perfectly fine! ¡®Perfectly fine¡¯ might be grossly exaggerated, but Percy didn¡¯t care. His half-torn shoes would survive another day or two until he earned enough money. Maybe he wouldn¡¯t feel that bad about paying the exorbitant price for the leather boots. I will come back for you¡­probably. Percy left the shop and yawned again when the midday sun basked his face. It was warm and comfortable. He yawned again. It was still early, and Percy could have spent the rest of the day hunting or doing something else to learn more about his Ego and the power of Gifted Ones, but exhaustion crept up his spine. It spread through his entire body and slowed Percy. He couldn¡¯t even gather his thoughts properly any longer. Percy was mentally drained. I do deserve some luxury, right? He asked himself and nodded slowly as if to confirm that he deserved a treat. That was enough to make a decision. Percy chose to do something he wouldn¡¯t have dared in the past. It was time to search for a good inn and rent a room for the night ¨C or the rest of the day! ** He wasn¡¯t sure what had happened, but less than fifteen minutes after he had decided to find an inn, Percy found himself in a cozy room with a large bed. Seven copper coins per night¡­ Percy only realized what he had done but didn¡¯t regret it. Paying seven copper coins to sleep somewhere was quite a lot. That money would have been enough to sleep in the chamber of poverty for an entire week. But Percy never wanted to get back to that place. It¡¯s worth it. Just look at this bed! It¡¯s clean. Everything is well-maintained as well. This is perfect! He pressed his palms against the mattress and felt a chill shoot up his spine. This is better than perfect! Percy¡¯s mind blanked out. He removed his clothes except for the new pair of undergarments ¨C which were included in the set of linen clothes ¨C and jumped onto the bed. Only a few seconds later, Percy found himself struggling to stay awake. But was that really necessary? Percy realized that he didn¡¯t have to stay awake. He allowed the tight embrace of darkness to come for him. A moment later, Percy fell asleep, his heart filled with excitement. The first day of his eventful new life he ended just like that. At noon. ** The sun rose behind the horizon, casting the first gleams into Percy¡¯s room. The darkness in his room dispersed slowly, stirring the smiling youth awake. He groaned softly but removed the blanket and got up more instinctively than consciously. But as he stood there, his naked feet pressing tightly against the warm wooden floor, Percy froze in his tracks. His eyes shot open, and the dreaminess wiped from his face. ¡°It¡¯s real!!¡± Percy exclaimed, his head flicking left and right as if trying to find something to crush his hopes. However, nothing in the room could crush his hopes. The inn room was the same as before, his clothes ¨C alongside his dagger ¨C were sprawled all over the ground, and his bag with his remaining coins was also where he¡¯d left it. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. ¡°Yes!¡± He clenched his fists in excitement, not even noticing that his arm didn¡¯t hurt anymore. Percy spent several minutes putting on his clothes, attaching the dagger sheath to his belt, and counting his remaining copper coins. It wouldn¡¯t have taken long under normal circumstances, but Percy¡¯s mind was filled with memories of the day before. He reminisced about everything happening to him in the last 24 hours and smiled like a fool. At some point, he noticed his bandage and removed it. Percy was ready to change the cloth but couldn¡¯t see the bite wound inflicted by the Berserk Rabbit anymore. There was the faintest sign of a scar, but that was about it. It was hardly noticeable and could only be seen if someone knew the scar existed. That is much better than anything I could have hoped for. He was well-rested, felt more invigorated than before and his injury healed faster than expected. I want to hunt again! Despite yesterday¡¯s encounter with the Berserk Rabbits and how conflicted he had been after eliminating the monsters, Percy¡¯s entire being was drawn to the wilderness. The wilderness changed his whole life. It allowed him to learn more about his Ego and would continue to help him improve and get stronger by earning him more money. The urge to return to the wilderness and hunt was greater than the fear of dying or killing. Percy had been at his lowest for the last few months, but yesterday changed everything. He never wanted to go back to that time. Just thinking about the past was enough to start shivering uncontrollably. No. I won¡¯t go back there. NEVER! Percy steeled his mind and opened the door to the floor. The second day of his new life began. Percy hurriedly descended the wooden stairs to reach the inn¡¯s ground floor. His thoughts were a jumbled mess of ideas and plans, but he was interrupted as a voice rang out from the right. ¡°Good morning. I hope you slept well.¡± Percy slowed down and turned to a stocky woman with long brunette hair bound to a big bun. She had fierce features but smiled gently at him. ¡°I''ve never slept better,¡± He responded curtly to the woman. She was the inn''s owner. Let¡¯s go hu¨C... ¡°That¡¯s nice to hear. Are you hungry? Breakfast will be done in a few minutes.¡± Percy stopped at hearing the inn owner talk about food. His hand reached out for his pouch but winced. He looked at the interface, and it showed that he had only two dozen copper coins left. He¡¯d planned to hunt and earn enough copper coins to increase his rank or upgrade the iron dagger again. However, the aroma hanging in the room bewitched him. The intensity of the fresh parsley, herbs, and spices overwhelmed Percy. It might be nothing special for other people, but it was heavenly for someone rarely graced with warm meals. I¡­need to eat something for breakfast either way. A filled stomach will surely help me focus better. It shouldn¡¯t be an issue to hunt more monsters with a full stomach! ¡°How much is it?¡± Percy asked hesitantly, hoping that it wouldn¡¯t be too unexpected. The inn owner chuckled, thinking Percy was joking. However, upon seeing his hesitant expression, she just smiled at him. ¡°Silly~ You already paid for breakfast. Don¡¯t look at me like that. You paid for the room, and you will get a nice breakfast!¡± Maybe that was normal, but Percy was pleasantly surprised. ¡°In that case, I would love to eat breakfast!¡± ¡°Perfect,¡± She disappeared in the kitchen, her voice reaching Percy, ¡°I will be back in a minute. Take a seat.¡± Percy entered the dining room. To be precise, it looked like what he imagined a well-maintained bar to look like. At the end of the room was a wooden counter with countless bottles. Percy doubted he¡¯d seen most liquid bottles but figured that hard liquor was stored in them. He tried beer once when Greg was still with him but never liked the taste. It was too expensive as well. Maybe the money wouldn¡¯t be an issue anymore, but Percy didn¡¯t want to waste his money on something he didn¡¯t like. Other than the counter, Percy found several clean tables with sturdy chairs and sat down once he made sure that he was alone in the room. ¡°I don¡¯t have many guests, and most are still asleep. They¡¯re tired from hunting,¡± The inn owner explained when she noticed his attention drifting through the room. She returned from the kitchen with a tray full of food and arrived at his table in no time. Percy found himself salivating as the stocky woman put the tray down before him. There was a bowl with a clear soup ¨C Percy had no idea what vegetables were hidden inside the soup, but an intense aroma came from them ¨C and a plate with baked potatoes, some meat, and a brownish, viscous sauce. Everything smelled nice, and Percy found himself a lot hungrier than before. ¡°There are Adventurers in your Inn? That must be nice.¡± He mumbled absentmindedly as he picked up the fork and knife. Percy knew how to use a fork and knife, but he was certainly not the type of person who paid attention to his etiquette. If anything, etiquette was probably the last thing he thought about as the breakfast carnage began. ¡°You don¡¯t have to eat so fast. I can give you seconds if you¡¯re still hungry,¡± The inn owner said reassuringly, but Percy was an unstoppable force. She shrugged and answered his question instead, ¡°Only traveling merchants, adventurers, bards, and the like would stay for the night. Well, maybe some drunkards after staring too deep into their mugs, but that¡¯s rarely the case. Most drunkards can reach their home dead drunk as well.¡± The inn owner studied him and took the tray once Percy finished the bowl and plate in record time. ¡°I better give you seconds before you start gnawing on my furniture,¡± She teased, but Percy blushed in embarrassment. He didn¡¯t expect to be this hungry. This is so good. I should earn more money to stay here permanently. I would have a comfortable bed and the best breakfast in the world. It¡¯s worth putting my life on the line for such a life! The inn owner returned with seconds and a smile, seeing Percy¡¯s expression. ¡°You¡¯re terrible at hiding your feelings,¡± She noted in a matter-of-fact tone. His blush intensified, but the woman didn¡¯t mind that. Instead, she sat down opposite him and studied him a little longer before saying what was lingering on her mind. ¡°I think I¡¯ve seen you before, but you are not one of the traveling merchants. You look frail and like you never had a good breakfast. Your clothes are new, but you have yet to buy new boots. There is also blood on your sheath, but the guards aren¡¯t searching for a murderer. The only news I have is about a frail youth running around the town with monster carcasses, scaring everyone¡­¡± Percy wasn¡¯t sure what to do as the woman continued speaking. The more she said, the less comfortable Percy felt. He didn¡¯t like the way the inn owner analyzed him. What is she up to? The tension within Percy rose, only to disperse when the stocky woman smiled at him. ¡°You want to become an Adventurer, don¡¯t you?¡± B1 Chapter 11 - Guildhall After some back and forth, Percy surrendered. The inn owner could see right through him. Thus, he told her about his life. It wasn¡¯t much, by any means, but Percy felt oddly good talking to the inn owner ¨C Bertha of the Angel¡¯s Brew Inn ¨C about the happenings of the last 24 hours and the years before. He omitted some information and didn¡¯t mention his Ego. His main focus was on his awakening as a Gifted One and the Berserk Rabbit hunt. Apparently, it was too obvious that he was Gifted One to hide it. ¡°Everyone leaving the town¡¯s safety to hunt monsters is either gifted, desperate, or a madman. You don¡¯t strike me as a crazy kid.¡± Bertha said, unimpressed, when Percy revealed he was the man running around with the monster carcasses yesterday. It didn¡¯t feel quite right to tell Berth about his Ego. She seemed trustworthy, but something made him want to hide the Coin of Prosperity¡¯s existence. Thus, he avoided discussing the Ego and focused on the Berserk Rabbit battle instead. Percy¡¯s story was interesting enough to earn him more food. Bertha got up and brought more food to the table. He was already full at that time but ate more for the sake of the marvelous taste. He wouldn¡¯t waste good food! Bertha was impressed and chuckled lightly when Percy talked about the baker, the butcher, and Erdwin. She was a good listener and asked a few light questions, which Percy answered passionately. He felt great but noticed that Bertha¡¯s expression changed slightly at some point. She was still studying him, yet something was different. ¡°How about you visit the Guildhall before your next hunt?¡± Bertha asked, still smiling. ¡®It should have been obvious that the first Berserk Rabbit wasn¡¯t alone. He was lucky that there were only three.¡¯ She thought, slowly realizing Percy¡¯s ignorance. He had been lucky, but that didn¡¯t mean the kid would be lucky every time. ¡°If you want to pursue a career as an Adventurer or a Hunter, you should go to the Guildhall. Completing missions will help you rank up faster, and the staff in the Guildhall will keep you up-to-date on changes in the wilderness and its dangers.¡± ¡°As long as you register at the Guild and prepare your hunts meticulously, you will have no problems at using the Guild¡¯s information network to earn a fortune and rank up swiftly. The information network is very important and hard for ordinary people to access. As a Gifted One, you will be accepted into the Guild without issues. You might not have access to top-secret information at Bronze Rank, but you can procure information about the surrounding regions, plant life, missions, monsters, monster cards, and much more.¡± Bertha cleared her throat. She saw someone walk into the dining room and got up, smiling at Percy. ¡°To sum it up, the Guild¡¯s information network will help you survive in the wilderness and among nobles ¨C if you ever come across them as an Adventurer.¡± Percy swallowed hard. He would need time to digest the information Bertha had thrown at him. ¡°How do you know all of this?¡± He asked as the inn owner was about to leave to serve the other guest¡¯s breakfast. ¡°I have an inn.¡± She winked in his direction and left. Bertha had her ways with people. She was much better at socializing than Percy and had an easy time getting him to open up. He didn¡¯t even realize how much he had been saying before Bertha was forced to get up and serve her other guests. I could visit the Guildhall. Being better prepared won¡¯t harm me. He got up and left the Angel¡¯s Brew Inn with a full stomach to walk through Raewood until he reached the town¡¯s center. Raewood had a small plaza in its center with many stalls and alleys leading to the different districts. Percy wasn¡¯t hungry anymore and didn¡¯t plan to buy anything special either. He ignored the stalls and walked to the large wooden doors of the largest buildings. Raewood¡¯s Guildhall. The Guildhall had several distinctive features. The stone foundation and timber frame were the most common among them. However, it was already uncommon for houses in Raewood to have tiled roofs. Percy couldn¡¯t remember having seen more than four tiled roofs in Raewood, two of them being the Guildhall and the town hall. The Guildhall¡¯s facade was also unique, etched with ornate carvings of various symbols and tools, including weapons and religious motifs. Percy tried to peek inside the Guildhall through one of the large windows, but something disturbed his sight. He swayed and found his mind assaulted by nausea, forcing the youth to look away. Did they do something to their windows? Why do you even install windows if you don¡¯t allow others to look through them? Percy cursed but approached the grand double door made of heavy wood nonetheless. The double door was reinforced with iron and also adorned with intricate carvings. Last but not least, Percy¡¯s attention fell upon the Guild¡¯s emblem: The head of a Black Dragon with an elongated snout and sharp spikes jutting from its jaw. Percy shuddered as his eyes fell upon the Guild emblem, but he proceeded to walk into the Guildhall, where he was greeted by the putrid smell of sweat from the left and the pleasant aroma of flowers from the right. A wry smile formed on his lips, and his head flicked left and right to study the large wooden counter with the Guild¡¯s receptionists to his right. The wall and boards were filled with parchments, each containing a mission to complete. Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel. A few men and women talked to the receptionists to his right, but most people ¨C Adventurers and Hunters ¨C studied the parchments to pick their next mission to his left. Percy¡¯s heart beat wildly at the sight unfolding before him, but he forced himself to look calm and composed ¨C he was pretty sure he failed miserably at that. ¡°Get out of my way, brat.¡± A hoarse voice rang out from behind. A moment later, Percy found a massive hand with a steely grip on his shoulder. He flinched and was about to spin around when the hand pushed him away. It wasn¡¯t even a proper push, but it felt like a carriage crashed into him. He stumbled to the side and nearly fell to the ground. An Adventurer walked outside the Guildhall and was nearly struck by Percy, but he regained balance before anything worse could happen. It would have been a bad start to his Adventurer career if he hurt someone before he was properly registered at the Guild. The Adventurer eyed him for a second but continued walking after a moment. In the meantime, the man who¡¯d pushed him aside stared at Percy. ¡°Sorry. Didn¡¯t know you¡¯re so fragile.¡° Percy spun around to say something to the man, but his lips were sealed tightly when he saw a giant right before him. The hurling man before him was at least 2.30 meters tall. He was the most muscular man Percy had ever seen and exuded an aura that made it impossible to say anything. He swallowed hard, earning a chuckle from a more petite man beside the hulking giant. ¡°You¡¯re scaring the kids again, Dave,¡± The man continued chuckling, slapping the hulking giant¡¯s arm since he was too small to reach his shoulders. The hulking giant ¨C apparently called Dave ¨C looked at Percy, his lips pressed together. His naturally fierce expression didn¡¯t help ease the situation, but Percy gathered his courage and smiled at the man. ¡°I won¡¯t block the entrance next time. Thank you for reminding me.¡± The man beside Dave stopped laughing and studied Percy with a raised eyebrow. After a while, he turned to the counter and gestured to Dave to follow him. Dave nodded slowly toward Percy and turned around to follow his friend. The staff looked warily at Dave the whole time, but they remained professional. Calm down and get your act together. First, register at the Guild. Second, research some stuff, whether it is about monsters, valuable plants, or Egos. Last but not least, go hunting with your newly acquired knowledge! Percy didn¡¯t need a complicated plan to get started with. It was only the second day after he gained access to mana. He wouldn¡¯t have to become a high-ranked Adventurer capable of slaying Dragons and Titans overnight. I don¡¯t think that¡¯s possible in the first place. If that guy is still human, how colossal are creatures like Giants?! He shuddered, goosebumps covering his entire body, but at the same time, Percy felt a tinge of excitement blossoming in his heart. He didn¡¯t even leave Raewood, yet a new world unfolded before him. He walked toward the counter and stopped next to Dave ¨C for whatever reason, other Adventurers didn¡¯t dare to approach the counters besides Dave and his friend. The receptionist had been eying Dave, but her focus averted to Percy, whom she greeted with a professional smile. ¡°Good morning. How may I help you?¡± She asked, not without occasionally glancing warily at Dave. ¡°I would like to register as an Adventurer.¡± The receptionist nodded, noticing Percy¡¯s smile at Dave. He isn¡¯t even that scary now that I think about it. It¡¯s not his fault to be born like this¡­I guess. I wouldn¡¯t feel great to be judged because of my looks, either. He didn¡¯t even do anything wrong, but apologized to me! Becoming Dave¡¯s friend, or at least ensuring Dave didn¡¯t hate him, was much better than making the giant an enemy on day one. Percy imagined how a fight with Dave would end¡­ The result was an unpleasant massacre¡­None of his body parts would be left intact or attached to him. ¡°You want to register? We can do that right away,¡± The staff said with a smile, ¡°Since you gained access to mana already, you can apply as a Bronze Rank Adventurer. The process is free of charge as long as you meet the requirements. If you do not meet the requirements now, you can still register as an Iron Rank Adventurer after paying the fee of two silver coins.¡± Two silver coins?! And I have to pay money if I don¡¯t meet the requirements? Do they not want more people to register at the Guild? Percy nearly blurted his thoughts aloud but controlled himself enough to clear his throat instead of saying anything stupid. ¡°What are the requirements? Is it possible to repeat the free-of-charge process later if I don¡¯t meet the requirements right now, or did I use my only chance by approaching you?¡± He swallowed hard. Paying two silver ¨C money he didn¡¯t have right now ¨C would take eons. He would have to return to the wilderness, as clueless as the day before. According to Bertha, that was a death sentence. The receptionist smiled and retrieved a small translucent orb, ¡°If you¡¯re not confident, you can return later to register. Or you pay the two silver coins and accept missions as an Iron Rank Adventurer. Guild Missions will help you advance faster. Thereby, you will have an easier time meeting the requirements to become a Bronze Adventurer. But let¡¯s focus on the requirements first.¡± Her attention was diverted to the translucent orb, glowing in a faint azure blue. ¡°As long as you can infuse enough mana into the orb to make it glow like this, you can register as a Bronze Rank Adventurer. If you want to start as an Iron Rank, you must complete ten Iron Rank Missions before you can apply for an advancement.¡± After cutting the connection to the orb, the receptionist put it on the counter with a smile. She cleared her throat and continued, ¡°But be careful. If you do not have the money to register, you should work hard on your mana control first. Learning how to control your mana is essential to establish a proper foundation. Controlling Artifacts and Monster Cards will be much easier as your mana control increases in the fu¨C...¡± ¡°Is that enough?¡± Percy¡¯s voice reached the receptionist, who¡¯d closed her eyes to remember every little detail that had to be mentioned to new, promising Gifted Ones. Percy might not be the youngest anymore, but he looked clueless enough to awaken her dormant motherly instincts. The naivety glimmering in his eyes forced the young staff member to reach out with a helping hand. When the receptionist opened her eyes, her attention was drawn to the orb. Sweat poured down his temples, but Percy smiled innocently at her. His hands clutching the orb ached, his legs jiggled in exhaustion, and a headache crept up from the back of his head as the cooling energy within him entered the orb at Percy¡¯s will. Nonetheless, it worked. The orb glowed brightly. B1 Chapter 12 - Bronze I ¡°Is that enough?¡± Percy repeated when the receptionist didn¡¯t answer. She continued staring at the glowing orb but nodded slowly. Unfortunately, she nodded a little too late. Percy¡¯s mana reserves were sucked dry.. He blinked the sweat in his eyes away before his legs caved in. Percy fell and would have crashed hard onto the floor if he wasn¡¯t caught. It was the young man who was with Dave. Dave¡¯s hands also shot toward Percy to catch him, but his friend had been faster. ¡°Was that your first time using mana?¡± He asked while helping Percy get back to his feet. The mana within Percy stirred, and he found himself drawn to the orb once again. It was still glowing, even if the light was dimmer than before. Percy¡¯s hand reached for the orb a second time.. Come back, please. I don¡¯t want to buy a ton of food to fill my mana reserves! Percy wasn¡¯t sure if that would work, but he was pleasantly surprised when the remnants of his mana inside the orb returned to him. The orb¡¯s light died down, while his complexion improved. ¡°Thank you for catching me,¡± He turned to the Adventurer who was still waiting for an answer, ¡°But yes, it was my first time. This is quite fun, though also very exhausting.¡± The man chuckled and patted his shoulder, ¡°Good job, brat. Congratulations on becoming a Bronze Class Adventurer. Maybe we will see each other in the wilderness in the future!¡± Dave grunted and nudged his friend, which was almost enough to push him into the wooden counter. ¡°My name is Mike.¡± The Adventurer looked at Dave as if asking, ¡®Is that enough?¡¯ But Dave grunted again. Mike sighed deeply but turned to Percy with a forced smile. ¡°Dave would love to go hunt with you once you¡¯re strong enough to keep up with us.¡± Dave frowned, annoying Mike who cursed quietly. ¡°The last part wasn¡¯t his words. But I think you should get stronger first. It would be annoying to carry dead weight with us on the hunt.¡± Even though Dave wasn¡¯t pleased, Mike ignored him. If the hulking giant wanted to say anything else, he had to speak for himself! Percy smiled at the invitation and nodded vigorously, ¡°I will take you guys up on that offer once I¡¯m stronger. I will not be dead weight by then!¡± The receptionist must have regained her senses. She intercepted their discussion by clearing her throat. ¡°Your mana control is quite good. If that was your first time using a mana orb, you¡¯re talented,¡± The receptionist said in a matter-of-fact tone, ¡°Being able to retract the mana you¡¯ve channeled into the orb is not that easy either. It requires weeks of hard training. You must have trained a lot at home before coming here. That was a good decision.¡± She nodded proudly at Percy, which stunned him a little. ¡°Congratulations. You meet all requirements to register as a Bronze Rank Adventurer!¡± Weeks of training? That¡­doesn¡¯t make any sense. I didn¡¯t train anything. I gained access to mana yesterday and didn¡¯t even think about trying to control or insert it anywhere. Is she mistaken about something? The receptionist didn¡¯t notice Percy¡¯s confusion. She retrieved a wooden clipboard and several pieces of paper. ¡°Please fill out the form and seal it with a drop of your blood. We will complete your Adventurer Insignia once we¡¯re done.¡± Percy accepted the clipboard and pencil before getting started. Completing the form was not really problematic, but some questions were more complex than expected. [Name] [Family Name] [Place of birth] [Age] [Ego] [Tier] [Mana Control Level] [Time since Awakening] If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. ¡­ Percy chuckled, but his expression was somber, sadness overwhelming him. He could only answer the [Name] and [Tier] section without worries while leaving the section related to his [Ego] and [Time since Awakening] empty. The receptionist noticed his hesitation, and Percy struggled momentarily before smiling hesitantly. ¡°I¡­I¡¯m not sure about my exact age, but I should be around 16 years old. I¡­think¡­¡± He looked at the receptionist, who glanced back at him, ¡°Is that enough?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t know how old you are?¡± She blurted out and looked intently at the youth. She would have known him if he was one of the town¡¯s orphans. The young woman reached for the clipboard and looked at the meager information he¡¯d written down. He can speak fluently and has no problem reading and writing, but doesn¡¯t know his family name, place of birth, or how old he is? Also¡­He is only a Mortal-2 with that kind of mana control? I was certain his parents taught him how to control mana, but¡­it doesn¡¯t look like he is lying and he¡¯s not what I would consider a typical rebel or runaway either. ¡°If you think you¡¯re 16 years old, let¡¯s write that down. Let¡¯s scratch the Place of birth and replace it with residency. You are currently in Raewood, so that should be fine. Your family name¡­we can leave that empty. Many Adventurers don¡¯t want to share their family name. There are also a bunch of Adventurers who choose new names to start all over with a new identity. That is quite troublesome for the Guild sometimes, but it¡¯s not that rare and it doesn¡¯t concern you either.¡± She nodded slowly, regaining her professional spirit, only to reach the last two points. [Ego] and [Time since Awakening] ¡°It would have been great if you had an Ego. You must have gained access to mana not too long ago if your Tier is Mortal-2, but your mana control is exceptional. Awakening at 16 is uncommon, but it happens occasionally,¡± She sighed softly, ¡°Still, more Ego Users in Raewood would be great.¡± ¡°Is it that great to awaken an Ego?¡± Percy was curious. Maybe he should mention his Ego. The receptionist¡¯s chuckle rang through Percy¡¯s ears. ¡°Egos are great! Everyone pays more attention to Egos, even the royal family and nobility. They gain more access to resources and information. Ego Users are nourished with greater care because they improve much faster than ordinary Gifted Ones. Using their Ego allows them to progress faster, which is also why they have special training regimes revolving around their Egos, allowing them to train and rank up simultaneously. Thus, by training, hunting monsters, and completing missions, they rank rapidly while gaining theoretical and practical experiences.¡± ¡°To sum it up, Ego Users have greater potential. They¡¯re generally stronger than the norm and grow stronger at an accelerated rate. Unfortunately, we don¡¯t have any Egos in Raewood. It¡¯s a shame, especially in such a heavy season,¡± She glanced toward the mission boards and the wall filled with missions and sighed deeply. I was right then. If I use my Ego more often, I can rank up faster! The receptionist pulled back to the form and tapped the last point on the form gently. ¡°You didn¡¯t answer this one.¡± ¡°Does it matter how long it has been since I awakened?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± The receptionist retorted sternly. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°We need to record everything. The kingdom is always looking for new talents. The same applies to the Guild as well, of course. One way to discover talents is to determine how fast they can improve their mana control and Tier. It might not be essential if you don¡¯t plan to apply for an Academy. You might be too old to start that, but it matters to others. Imagine you gain access to the gift when you turn four, but you¡¯re progressing much slower than someone who¡¯d manifested their gift at six or seven. Even if your Tier is slightly higher than theirs, you would be ¡®worse¡¯. Of course, this is relative, and there are exceptions to this rule. It doesn''t matter if you don¡¯t plan to join the military or an academy. Still, it¡¯s always better to write it down if you¡¯re still thinking about it.¡± Percy nodded slowly. ¡°I gained access to mana yesterday around dawn.¡± A glimmer of surprise flashed through the receptionist¡¯s eyes, but she silently noted his answer. ¡°Please reread the form, check if everything is correct, and sign it with your blood. A single drop is all it takes,¡± She smiled. Percy nodded, unsheathed his dagger in a smooth motion, and pressed his thumb against the blade. He sheathed the blade a moment later, a droplet of blood trickling down his finger. He pressed his thumb against the paper without changing his expression and waited patiently. ¡°Usually, you¡¯re not allowed to draw your weapon in the Guildhall¡­or anywhere in the town, any village, let alone the city¡­¡± The receptionist said slowly, holding a tiny needle, ¡°But I guess that¡¯s on me. We should go through the Guild rules¡­and maybe it might be best if I explain to you what most people would consider common sense.¡± Ten minutes later, Percy had learned a lot about common sense ¨C apparently, his common sense was non-existent ¨C and the Guild rules. Murdering innocent people was wrong. Protecting the citizens was nice. Threatening unarmed people was wrong. Killing evil monsters was good. Stuff like that, including never drawing your weapons or using a Monster Card in your settlement if you weren¡¯t given special permission. His Bronze Class Insignia was also complete. It showed a small pin with a detailed bronze engraving of the Guild emblem. [Bronze Guild Emblem ¨C Excellent Quality ¨C 101 Prosperity] ¡°Again¡­how much do I have to pay if I lose this?¡± Percy asked, lifting the Bronze Guild Emblem as nonchalantly as possible. ¡°You will be severely punished, your mission rewards will be halved for two weeks, and you will have to pay one gold coin.¡± Nevermind. ** Patreon has already been launched. If you''re interested in reading more about Percy''s story, go ahead and join my Patreon. You can find 15 Advanced Chapters on my Patreon! B1 Chapter 13 - Bronze II ¡°Since you are an official member of the Guild now, do you want to take a look at the missions? I can help you pick the most suitable missions to determine your alignment first.¡± Under normal circumstances, it was probably the best decision to find out whether Percy¡¯s gift had an alignment toward certain types of missions or if he was unaligned. If it was the former, Percy could learn more about his alignments and solve more missions of that kind to advance his Tier faster. That was also something Percy would have done if he didn¡¯t have [Coin of Prosperity]. ¡°The owner of the inn I¡¯m staying at told me to study before going out to hunt,¡± Percy rubbed the back of his head in embarrassment. ¡°I think you understand why.¡± He¡¯d been drawing a blade in the Guildhall and did a fair number of stupid things in the last two days. Even Percy understood how important it was to fix his flaws quickly. If reading for a few hours could solve his issues, so be it. ¡°That might be best for you,¡± The receptionist nodded and gestured to him to follow. ¡°Let¡¯s go to the second floor. Since you can read, you should make use of that. Study and prepare yourself for the dangers of the wilderness. The more you study, the less you will be surprised by the wilderness.¡± She walked around the wooden counter, and Percy followed. They used the staircase beside the mission wall and reached the second floor, where shelves filled with hundreds of books were waiting for them. There was a lone table and several wooden chairs, which hadn¡¯t been used for a while. Percy¡¯s finger swept across one of the armrests, removing a thin layer of dust. Either nobody can read, which I doubt, or the Adventurers and Hunters have already finished all those books, which I doubt as well. ¡°Not many Adventurers are patient enough to study for long. Of course, there are exceptions, but most Adventurers are used to learning straight from their practical experiences. I don¡¯t like that, but it is how it is. We¡¯re lucky that most monsters near Raewood are Common Monsters.¡± Percy nodded understandingly. He didn¡¯t really have a high opinion of books either. However, he didn¡¯t want to be taken advantage of by people like Merchant Erdwin anymore. Imagine a monster taking advantage of me. That would be hilari¨Cbad. It would be very bad. The receptionist had disappeared behind the wall of shelves and returned carrying several thick books. ¡°Once you¡¯re done with that batch, you won¡¯t die easily in the wilderness around Raewood. Not only that, but you will make a fortune from collecting rare plants and other resources as well,¡± She winked at him and disappeared again, reappearing a few seconds later with even more books. ¡°You want me to read¡­all of this?¡± Percy asked, not sure whether to be happy or overwhelmed with the intense care he received from the receptionist. She was undoubtedly paying more attention to his well-being than Greg. That bastard beat me up whenever he had the chance instead of teaching me common sense. That old, frail hypocrite! He shook his head, thinking back to their occasional night-time sparring sessions. The spars weren¡¯t actually too bad, but Greg had never been a pleasant opponent. The old man was a ruthless monster ¨C despite being fragile like cracked glass. I miss you, bastard! Percy cursed, fletching his teeth at the pile of books. ¡°I get why Adventurers would rather dive into danger. This is terrifying.¡± Percy grumbled, feeling like going out into the greenery rather than being stuck within four walls and piles of books waiting to be read. Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more. Still, despite being overwhelmed by the small tower of books before him, Percy got started. He reached for the first book, sat down, and started reading. The first book was precisely what Percy needed. It was a Beginner Monstrology wide variety of Common Rank monsters. Many monsters mentioned in the book didn¡¯t live in the plains and forest near Raewood, but it would be interesting to research their habitat, habits, strengths, weaknesses, and rare body parts in the future. For now, however, Percy focused on the marked pages, which showed Berserk Rabbits, Wind Wolves, and more than a hundred other Common Rank monsters ¨C monsters that could be found in the plains and nearby forest. Other than Beginner Monstrology, Percy found a few books related to general information given to Bronze Rank Adventurers. That included tips and tricks for trading, selling carcasses, buying goods, establishing a hunting team, tracking monsters, trapping monsters, studying people''s body language to differentiate truths and lies, and much more. Contrary to his expectations, it was interesting. Percy had a lot to learn about how to hunt and preserve monsters properly without damaging their most valuable body parts, determine whether a plant was poisonous or a treasure, which plants were edible, and how to pluck herbs with important properties without damaging them. Of course, Percy had a lot more to learn, and theoretical knowledge wasn¡¯t everything he needed, but it was far more interesting than expected. He had never been a fan of books ¨C mostly because they were hard to access free of charge and too expensive to purchase, especially with Greg barely earning enough to cover their living expenses ¨C but that sentiment changed slowly. Come to think of it¡­ What did Greg do to earn enough coins to feed us? He was always with me. His body was never that great, either. Greg was frail and limping, but he was a monster in human skin nonetheless. At least, that was what Percy felt whenever the old man thrashed him. Percy shuddered, and his focus returned to the books. He spent the following hours reading. Even though the receptionist told him to focus on the tower of books first, Percy was also curious about books related to Egos. The knowledge he¡¯d access as a Bronze Rank Adventurer wasn¡¯t extraordinary, but he learned a little about Egos. To think that nobles are the kingdom¡¯s main military might. Well, it does make sense. If most nobles awaken Egos ¨C allowing them to grow stronger quickly with proper training ¨C it makes sense that many nobles are powerful. There are also Hereditary Egos. I didn¡¯t know that was a thing. It was only obvious, but the texts mostly explained why nobles were superior to ordinary people and that it was only right for them to be arrogant. Percy didn¡¯t like the way they worded these things, but his opinion didn¡¯t matter. The only thing he liked ¨C somewhat ¨C was that nobles were given more responsibility and land to protect their people with their superior power. As long as the noble households paid enough attention to their land, their citizens¡¯ living conditions would improve steadily. I don¡¯t even know who¡¯s in charge of Raewood, but he ¨C or she ¨C is not too bad. Percy thought back to the last two months and shuddered. His life hadn¡¯t been all rosy, yet he wouldn¡¯t blame the nobles for that. It was just that he hadn¡¯t been lucky until yesterday. It was his greatest fortune that his accumulated luck erupted yesterday, pushing the wheel of fate in the right direction. With that in mind, Percy slapped the table, and jumped up, his chair landing on the ground with a loud thud. ¡°I¡¯m done!¡± He declared, packing his bag. It was time to hunt! He charged out of the Guildhall, his eyes twinkling in excitement. ¡°He stayed longer than expected,¡± One of the staff members said, his eyes trailing behind the youth. ¡°I told you!¡± The receptionist said, flashing the man a bright smile, ¡°I won. That¡¯s 30 copper coins!¡± ¡°Yes, but no. You¡¯re missing something, Olivia.¡± The man showered Olivia with a shit-eating grin, nudging toward the wall filled with missions. ¡°He didn¡¯t pick a mission¡­¡± Olivia realized, her bright smile crumbling slowly. The man opened his palm as wide as possible. ¡°That will be 20 copper coins, please. That¡¯s after I removed your great victory money. No worries!¡± B1 Chapter 14 - Rage Percy groaned as he twisted his body to an uncomfortable degree to evade one of the white flashes whizzing past his head. He stumbled backward but gained enough foothold to dive to the side as more white flashes shot to his location. He evaded the monsters, jumped up from the ground, and changed back to one of the simple defensive techniques the old man had taught him in the past. His eyes flicked left and right, studying the small battlefield in detail while cold sweat trickled down his temples. Percy¡¯s throat was parched, but not a single thought was wasted on water. His mind rattled, trying to take in the details of the battlefield and devise a plan to get rid of the Berserk Rabbits. Six Berserk Rabbits alive, two dead. Two small interfaces showing the Prosperity he could earn from the Berserk Rabbits confirmed their deaths. He couldn¡¯t use [Consume] on the living. They weren¡¯t his property, after all. That made it much easier to pinpoint the dead and expose monsters faking their deaths. Unfortunately, it didn¡¯t help him kill the remaining Berserk Rabbits. Percy didn¡¯t roam near the outskirts of the forest for long before he found the fresh corpse of a monster. A moment later, a small group of eight Berserk Rabbits attacked him. Apparently, that was the usual number for a pack of Berserk Rabbits. If Percy had encountered the eight Berserk Rabbits yesterday, he would have struggled and despaired. But now? The Percy of today was nothing like the frail youth from yesterday. He was more confident, remembered what he¡¯d learned about the Berserk Rabbits in the Beginner Monstrology, and his body was nothing like it used to be. Percy felt more flexible, stronger, agile, and perceptive. At this point, Percy wasn¡¯t any slower than the Berserk Rabbits. It was all to the mana coursing through him and his body finally being on par with the average Mortal-2 Gifted. I have to thank Leonhard for the food. Of course, Bertha, as well! This morning, he might have used up most of his mana to illuminate the orb in the Guildhall, but Percy managed to recuperate the used-up mana quickly. In fact, he felt that being filled to the brim with delicious ¨C highly nutritious ¨C food helped him replenish mana much faster. His pores opened up, creating a strong suctioning force to pull the surrounding mana into his body. He wasn¡¯t sure if that was normal, but it felt nice. The mana coursing through him was cooling, calming, and invigorating. It was everything he needed. Percy smiled, excitement filling his entire body. He¡¯d killed two Berserk Rabbits without sustaining any injuries and evaded the remaining Berserk Rabbits without any issues either. At first, Percy struggled, but their attack pattern remained the same as yesterday. It was exactly the same as mentioned in the Beginner Monstrology! Since he wasn¡¯t slower than the Berserk Rabbits anymore, Percy could focus on their attack pattern. Dealing with multiple Berserk Rabbits was still troublesome, but he quickly learned that he was more flexible, had a wider range of attack due to his dagger and long arms, and his weight played a much more significant role than expected. He could leverage his strength much better, being heavier than the Berserk Rabbits, whose weight didn¡¯t even reach three kilograms. The numerical disadvantage was annoying, but Percy still retained the upper hand throughout the battle. He saw a gray flash from the corner of his eye and suddenly changed his tactic. The Berserk Rabbits never considered him a predator. They looked at him like he was a helpless prey. Losing two of their colleagues wasn¡¯t even registered in their minds. The grey Berserk Rabbit shot toward Percy¡¯s neck, ready to rip it apart. However, what it found was a razor-sharp dagger piercing through its abdomen. Percy clenched the iron dagger tightly as it cut deep into the monster¡¯s abdomen. The monster¡¯s momentum did the rest. A pained squeak was all that remained as the Berserk Rabbit collapsed to the ground, its intestines spilling out of the wide-open wound. Not yet dead. He couldn¡¯t finish the Berserk Rabbit as the others charged forward. They didn¡¯t move faster, but the death of their third mate hit them harder than the others. Their attacks grew more reckless and relentless, playing right into Percy¡¯s cards. He leveraged his weight and momentum to kick the closest Berserk Rabbit with as much force as possible while spinning around to block the pounce of another white Berserk Rabbit. His empty hand shot forward, his fist smashing into the face of a third Berserk Rabbit. A moment later, he pulled back, readied the iron dagger, and jumped ahead, switching smoothly from defending into attacking. The Berserk Rabbits didn¡¯t switch their tactic. Instead, they also charged ahead. Percy managed to pierce a rabbit¡¯s neck, but one of them managed to bite into his leg while another one tore his right lower arm apart. At least, it was trying to. His skin was tougher than before. It wasn¡¯t tough enough to block the monster from tearing into his flesh, but the pain was unlike yesterday. The mana within him surged toward his arm and leg at will, cooling the wounds right away. The monsters were busy digging their fangs as deep into Percy¡¯s flesh as possible and didn¡¯t even see the blade coming. He avoided piercing their eyes but sliced deep into their necks and throats. A wave of disgust overwhelmed Percy, but he didn¡¯t think about stopping once. He knew his life would be over if he gave up now. Two more Berserk Rabbits pounced at him. Since he was already injured, Percy didn¡¯t mind sustaining another injury. He would be fine if he could avoid injuring his vital points. He locked onto one of the two Berserk Rabbits ¨C the other one he¡¯d kicked before. It was slower and thus disregarded as a priority ¨C caught it mid-air and drove his dagger into its side. The Berserk Rabbit squealed and was ready to bite his hand and tear it apart with its tiny claws, but Percy twisted the dagger in the rabbit¡¯s body and tore downward with as much strength as he could muster. The Berserk Rabbit¡¯s squeal intensified, and it lost itself in the unbearable pain. Percy grasped the Berserk Rabbit tighter than before once the iron dagger left its body and hurled it toward the other ¨C injured ¨C Berserk Rabbit. A loud crack resounded, but there was only one interface. The other Berserk Rabbit survived¡­until Percy pounced forward. The iron dagger pierced deep into the last Berserk Rabbit¡¯s back, ending its misery. Percy didn¡¯t loosen up. He was still tense and looked across the battlefield to study the interfaces. 6x [Berserk Rabbit ¨C Mature ¨C 7 Prosperity] 1x [Berserk Rabbit ¨C Mature ¨C 8 Prosperity] 1x [Berserk Rabbit ¨C Old ¨C 6 Prosperity] Eight interfaces from eight enemies. The battle was over. A heavy sigh escaped Percy¡¯s lips. ¡°That was¡­intense.¡± He murmured, looking down at his bloodied sleeve and pants. A groan escaped his lips, ¡°These were new¡­¡± The wounds didn¡¯t ache as much as he¡¯d feared, but the reason was fairly obvious. The mana within him swirled around the open wounds, mending them slowly. This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. If the wounds had been any worse, that wouldn¡¯t be enough¡­but the Berserk Rabbits didn¡¯t dig too deep into my flesh. They didn¡¯t damage anything vital. Percy wasn¡¯t sure how he knew, but he could tell that his mana would be enough to mend the wounds. Not immediately, of course, but he should be fully healed by tomorrow or the day after at the latest. His mana was slowly used to mend his wound, but Percy wasn¡¯t worried. Mana came to him naturally. The Berserk Rabbits give me a good amount of Prosperity. If I use [Consume] now, I might have enough to rank up again. Still, I¡¯ll probably have to add my remaining copper coins and [Consume] them. Ranking up sounds quite pleasant. But do I really need to rank up immediately? The Berserk Rabbits can earn me a silver or more. Should I return, sell the Berserk Rabbits, rank up with the money earned from them, and return to continue hunting with renewed strength? Percy swallowed hard. The eight Berserk Rabbit corpses would fit into his large bag. Carrying them back to Raewood wouldn¡¯t be an issue. But, despite being injured, Percy was unwilling to leave. Something held him back from returning right away. Too late did he sense the tremors in the earth. The tremors intensified, and Percy tensed up. He heard something from the bushes. It was loud¡­heavy¡­ Percy didn¡¯t know what awaited him, but he retreated and took a combat stance. All of a sudden, a giant creature emerged from the thicket, uprooting the surrounding bushes with its shocking momentum. A roar¡­no, a resounding grunt reached Percy¡¯s ears. A mature Hill Hog! Percy cursed, only to pale when he saw what the Berserk Rabbits had been feasting on inside the bushes until he¡¯d interrupted them. It was a piglet¡­ the Hill Hog¡¯s piglet. A female Hill Hog. Shit! Percy knew that there was no time to hesitate. If the Hill Hog were to run from him, Percy would leave it alone, but Hill Hogs were naturally aggressive and overprotective. He¡¯d read about that less than two hours ago. Running away is not an option. It¡¯s not as nimble, but Hill Hogs are fast, heavy, and highly durable. The females are known for being the most dangerous. Percy recited in his mind. The females were known for being able to enter a state of endless rage if their piglet were to die before it reached maturity. The biggest problem was that their rage was fixated on a single point. They would lock onto a target and pursue it until the end. I didn¡¯t kill it! Don¡¯t you dare attack me! Percy screamed in his mind, hoping that not moving would be enough to prevent the Hill Hog from discovering him. Unfortunately, Percy was the only one left alive. The perpetrators were already dead, but the female Hill Hog was still in fury. It found Percy, locked onto him and charged straight at him. Now, it was either him or the monster. One of them had to die. Percy cursed under his breath but dived to the side, ignoring his wounds. He¡¯d just stopped bleeding, but his injuries tore open again. The Hill Hog charged past him, its massive body nearly brushing him. A gust of wind splashed into his face, and he imagined what would have happened if the monster had crashed into him. Not a single bone in my body would remain intact. I would be dead and broken, smashed to a paste. He shuddered but focused on the battle ahead. The Hill Hog was fast, and its charge was frightening enough to stir the ground around him. However, it had a hard time turning around. Fueled in rage, it flicked its head in Percy¡¯s direction the instant it missed him. Percy could barely see it turn around quickly. However, the ¡®quick¡¯ turn wasn¡¯t as quick as Percy expected, and it was accompanied by cracking noises, creating a cacophony of pained grunts and cracks. Is it breaking its body to turn around faster? Seven Hells!! How mad can you be to destroy your own body like that? Percy retreated. He walked past the Berserk Rabbit corpses and reached the remnants of the Hill Hog piglet. That enraged the mother, who squealed aloud before charging at Percy. It is even faster! Percy¡¯s eyes narrowed to tiny slits, his heart palpated, and his entire being told him to run for his life. To disappear into the forest and escape. However, he knew from the Beginner Monstrology that the Hill Hog would fight him. No matter where he went, it would come for him. The only way to stop it was to kill it. He stepped to the side ever so slightly, forcing the Hill Hog mother to adjust her trajectory. A moment later, Percy readied his weapon. He held his breath, watching the huge creature charge at him. Only now did he realize that the Hill Hog was even larger than himself. That was rare for a Common monster. Being as heavy as the Hill Hog was also unusual for a Common Monster. That was also why most rookie adventurers were told to avoid them until they gained enough practical experience in the wilderness. Unfortunately, Percy wasn¡¯t given that pleasure. His hair stood up to its end, and his body urged him to jump when the Hill Hog was less than ten meters away, but Percy didn¡¯t move. He waited another second before he lowered his body until he jumped toward the Hill Hog¡¯s left side. In its rage, the Hill Hog mother tried to impale him and trample him to death but Percy was already out of range. Percy jumped up with a scream and dashed toward the Hill Hog. It tried turning around but couldn''t stop its own charge in time, resulting in more cracking noises and pained grunts, all overshadowed by a massive collision. The Hill Hog smashed into the biggest tree trunk Percy could find quickly. The tree creaked and twisted, taking Percy by surprise, but the Hill Hog wasn¡¯t unscathed either. Its head is locked! Percy shouted, switching to the other side when he realized the Hill Hog mother was having difficulty looking straight ahead and to its right. Percy disappeared from the Hill Hog¡¯s sight, fueling the monster with more rage. It wasn¡¯t until a moment later that the monster realized that Percy was still there. Something stung into its neck, though not deep enough to do considerable damage. Let alone killing the Hill Hog with a single blow; it was barely injured. Why is your hide so tough?! Aren¡¯t you a Common Monster? He stabbed the Hill Hog in the neck, but only the tip of his dagger vanished into the neck. For a large creature like a Hill Hog, that was nowhere enough. I¡¯m too weak! What about ranking up? A burst of strength would be helpful, but Percy quickly realized that [Consume] didn¡¯t work on the Berserk Rabbit corpses. He was too far. His Ego didn¡¯t trigger. He considered consuming his leather pouch and the copper coins, but his last Tier rank-up wouldn¡¯t be this cheap. Even consuming the Berserk Rabbits might not give him enough Prosperity to rank up again. It was possible but too uncertain. Upgrading my rank doesn¡¯t provide more strength instantaneously, either. Well, no. It does, through the increase of mana inside me. But what¡¯s the use of more mana if my body doesn¡¯t have enough nutrients to gain enough strength to pierce the Hill Hog? Even if I gain strength¡­will it be enough to pierce through the Hill Hog? Percy used every bit of strength at his disposal to push the dagger deeper into the Hill Hog, but it was to no avail. The Hill Hog squealed and jumped around. It nearly stomped Percy to death if he didn¡¯t pull the dagger out before pulling back. He used the creaking tree trunk to hide while the Hill Hog continued throwing its body around. Its neck is still locked. Attacking it head-on would be stupid, but it can no longer use its full power. How about piercing its eyes as well? No, I can take advantage of its restricted sight already. If I blind it¡­What if I pierce the dagger deep enough, though? For that, I won¡¯t be given enough time. The enraged Hill Hog won¡¯t lie down and let me pierce its brain that easily. Upgrading the dagger¡¯s sharpness would do¡­but what if it breaks like the pebbles? I can upgrade it again, the thread is still there¡­but what if it cracks. I cannot defeat the Hill Hog with bare hands. Too many ideas flashed through his mind, but none sounded pleasant. Most resulted in severe injuries on his side or suicidal actions, which were both things he would much rather avoid if possible. If it had been two days ago, Percy would be scared shitless and unable to move at the sight of the Hill Hog. Fortunately, the mana coursing through him calmed Percy¡¯s nerves. He wasn¡¯t calm like a sea or unaffected, but it gave his mind enough space to work. As if his mana sensed his gratefulness, it stirred. It circulated through his arms and legs, mending his wounds. At the same time, something else happened¡­something Percy had realized before but didn¡¯t comprehend properly. The mana within me strengthened my body. If that¡¯s the case¨C... The Hill Hog mother thrashed around and found Percy staring blankly at his dagger. A glint of determination and unbending resolve flashed through his eyes as he looked up again, but the Hill Hog didn¡¯t care. It charged ahead with terrifying momentum, ready to squash the murderer of its little piglet! ** Patreon has already been launched. If you''re interested in reading more about Percy''s story, go ahead and join my Patreon. You can find 15 Advanced Chapters on my Patreon! B1 Chapter 15 - Percy and the Hill Hog Percy tried controlling his mana like before. It came naturally to him to infuse the orb in the Guildhall with mana, and it hadn¡¯t been too difficult to stir his mana before, either. However, Percy felt a slight challenge infusing mana into the iron dagger. Grow stronger and sharper! He screamed in his mind but didn¡¯t know if that would be enough. Percy tapped into the stream of mana coursing through him and stirred it. Nothing happened at first, but the situation changed drastically once the mana submitted to his command. It flushed through his arms and entered the iron dagger through his fingers. His mana was sucked dry, but the iron dagger responded as intended. It glowed dimly and began vibrating violently, forcing Percy to grasp the dagger tighter than before. The white of his knuckles was visible as he clutched the handle as tightly as possible. It hurt, and he felt cold. It was odd, but Percy flashed a smile. The Hill Hog arrived before him, putting Percy in danger. He jumped to the side and rolled over the ground, suppressing a pained groan as a twig pierced his back. Percy finished rolling over the ground and got up smoothly without wasting any time, ready to assault the Hill Hog mother. However, before he could strike the beast, Percy¡¯s eyes narrowed to tiny slits. Slow. Its neck is still restrained, but it slowed down, knowing I would jump to the side, even though it was still in the eternal rage mode. That was annoying, but it wasn¡¯t as bad as Percy had feared. The Hill Hog mother might have noticed his movement pattern, but it was too slow to change its trajectory or come to a halt instantaneously. The monster¡¯s neck was the biggest issue, blocking it from moving in ways that changed the fate of the battle. That was Percy¡¯s greatest advantage and the reason he managed to keep his cool as he appeared beside the massive creature. His violently vibrating dagger lunged forward, piercing the Hill Hog¡¯s tough hide. However, this time, it pierced much deeper. The entire blade disappeared in the Hill Hog¡¯s neck. The Hill Hog didn¡¯t squeal in pain. It barely noticed Percy piercing into its neck in its fury. Instead of reacting to the blade stuck in its neck, the Hill Hog mother continued moving. Unable to see Percy, it threw a fit, the rage of losing its piglet filling the monster to the brim. It continued moving and thrashed while Percy desperately held onto the iron dagger. That was all it took to deal severe damage to the Hill Hog mother. Its violent movements and actions worsened the injury. Percy¡¯s wrist hurt like hell, and he could vividly imagine his wrist breaking when he held onto the dagger handle, but he didn¡¯t let go. He was unwilling to leave the Hill Hog behind like this. Instead, he kept holding onto the iron dagger and watched the dagger being pulled through the Hill Hog¡¯s body as the mother continued moving around. Using the Hill Hog¡¯s momentum and fury against it was the most efficient way for someone like Percy to kill it. Yet, the rage was also the reason the massive gash along its neck and the side remained unnoticed. The dagger blade cut even deeper into the Hill Hog mother¡¯s neck, and it didn¡¯t take long before a frightening sound rang out. Percy¡¯s eyes widened as the blade cut through the Hill Hog¡¯s side, leaving behind a massive gash in its side. It looked like a dam full of blood broke as streams of blood poured out of the creature. However, even Percy couldn¡¯t pay much attention to the gash anymore. His attention flickered to the iron dagger and the tiny crack in its blade. You cannot break yet! Percy twisted the blade inside the Hill Hog before pulling out. He shuddered at the sight unfolding before him but didn¡¯t dare to think of himself as the winner. The Hill Hog was not dead just yet. It turned to him and charged as if nothing had happened. Percy, controlling the dimly glowing blade, executed a sudden lung before diving to the other side. He tried stabbing the Hill Hog¡¯s throat as he disappeared underneath the monster but missed his target by a hair¡¯s breadth. He jumped up and sliced the Hill Hog¡¯s side, inflicting another deep gash. The glow shrouding the dagger grew dimmer as the infused mana was consumed rapidly. Percy knew he had only a few more seconds left before his dagger wouldn¡¯t be able to pierce the Hill Hog¡¯s hide anymore. Thus, he risked more to inflict more severe wounds on the enraged Hill Hog. He jumped left and right, ignoring the twigs piercing into his back or the bushes in his path. His body was riddled with cuts from tiny yet spiky thorns, and his clothes were drenched in a mixture of cold sweat and blood. The wounds inflicted by the Berserk Rabbits were bleeding, his stamina was slowly but surely reaching its limit as well, yet Percy didn¡¯t slow down. Percy managed to inflict close to five deep gashes all across the Hill Hog¡¯s body, with the first being the worst of all before the iron dagger stopped glowing. The infused mana was used up. But Percy wasn¡¯t the only one left exhausted. The Hill Hog was exhausted, small puddles of blood forming all around it. The Hill Hog mother could barely move at this point. It grunted in fury but was unable to charge at Percy. It could see the murderer of its little piglet, yet its body didn¡¯t want to move anymore. The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. That was when Percy sensed his opportunity. He was also tired, but his body obeyed his will. He charged forward, crossed the remaining distance to the Hill Hog mother, and thrust his dagger deep into the monster¡¯s eye. He groaned as the Hill Hog¡¯s tusk smashed into his ribs in a futile final attempt to eliminate Percy and twisted the blade in the Hill Hog¡¯s eye while trying to shove it deeper inside. The Hill Hog mother squeaked weakly and stared at Percy one last time with its remaining eye before the life inside it dispersed. The faint glow in its remaining eye died down, and the massive creature collapsed to the ground. [Hill Hog ¨C Mature ¨C 194 Prosperity] Percy collapsed to the ground next to the Hill Hog as the interface popped up. He couldn¡¯t even read what was written in the interface before he found himself lying on the ground, panting heavily. That was¡­close¡­ He didn¡¯t want to acknowledge it, but the fight with the Hill Hog was close. Lifting his trembling hand, Percy looked at his dagger. [Iron Dagger ¨C Damaged/Average Quality ¨C 36(76) Prosperity] The blade was coated in the Hill Hog¡¯s blood, but that was not enough to hide the thin cobweb-like cracks spreading across the blade¡¯s bottom. It was at 76 Prosperity after I used 30 Prosperity to upgrade its sharpness. Maybe it¡¯s still usable to hunt Berserk Rabbits, but it won¡¯t survive another Hill Hog. In the first place, I only managed to kill it because I infused the dagger with mana. Iron daggers are not very good mana conductors. Percy didn¡¯t know a lot about weapons, but he understood that some materials, including monster parts and metals, were better mana conductors than others. That was also why the Berserk Rabbit¡¯s eyes were more valuable than other parts. To Alchemists, at least. Iron was not the worst mana conductor, but the iron dagger didn¡¯t seem grateful for his miserable attempt to strengthen it in such a clumsy way. I need to learn how to control mana more precisely. And¡­I need another dagger. Even if it¡¯s a dull one, it should work. As long as I can enhance its sharpness with my Ego, that should be fine. A highly mana-conductive, durable dagger¡­But I don¡¯t have much money¡­ Percy pushed beyond his limit and got up from the ground. He was exhausted, and his entire body ached. There was no mana left to soothe his sore body either. Traces of the surrounding mana were absorbed by his body, but it would take a while before he was full of mana. Until then, he would have to deal with the soreness and pain. ¡°The blood will attract predators,¡± Percy mumbled, recalling things he¡¯d read in one of the books today. It was common knowledge, but there were still a bunch of Adventurers who would forget about predators. Some thought that nobody would attack them once their fight was over. However, that was foolish. Percy realized that first-hand today. It is too heavy. I cannot carry its corpse back to Raewood. Percy groaned. The Prosperity displayed in the interface was rather high, but that wasn¡¯t unexpected. Lots of the Hill Hog¡¯s hide was left intact. The tusks and reinforced bones were worth a lot as well. Even its intestines were rich in nutrients. The monster¡¯s meat might not be as delicious as the Berserk Rabbits¡¯ but it was large and heavy. Many citizens would purchase Hill Hog meat at a reasonably high price since it was suitable for children¡¯s growth. Some even say that Hill Hog meat helped children develop a gift. Percy could make a fortune, probably earning him more than four silver as long as he managed to bring the Hill Hog¡¯s body back to Raewood in the next few hours. But that was not feasible. Carrying the Hill Hog was impossible. It was too heavy. Even if Percy could barely pull it across the ground, he would have to defend himself against Berserk Rabbits, which were probably already on his trail. Percy was certain that the Berserk Rabbits, with their exceptional smell, had already detected something. Thus, rather than leaving the Hill Hog''s corpse behind, Percy chose to use his Ego. He approached the corpse and used [Consume] with his hands stretched out. Similar to the first time Percy had used [Consume], eerie darkness burst out of his palm. However, this time, the darkness was faster¡­ and deadlier. A humongous maw filled with rows of razor-sharp teeth shrouded by the darkness emerged from his palm and devoured the Hill Hog¡¯s corpse. [Mature Hill Hog has been consumed. 194 Prosperity has been added.] Percy shuddered as the darkness retracted, and he diverted his attention away from the grotesque effects of his Ego¡¯s power. He checked his interface instead. ¡ºPercy ¡» [Ego ¨C Coin of Prosperity] [Tier] ¨C [Mortal-2] ¡ª [Empty] ¡ºCoin of Prosperity¡» Prosperity: 197 ?Consume It would have been a shame to leave the Hill Hog corpse behind. Using my Ego to turn heavy corpses into Prosperity is probably the best thing I can do while I don¡¯t have a spatial bag or the like. The next time, I can remove the valuable parts of a larger monster and bring them back to Raewood while turning the rest into Prosperity to upgrade my equipment and Tier. Percy smiled through his exhaustion and left the woods. He was still bleeding and didn¡¯t want to challenge his luck. The only detour was to collect the Berserk Rabbit corpses. Once that was done, Percy returned to Raewood with hurried steps. ** Patreon has already been launched. If you''re interested in reading more about Percy''s story, go ahead and join my Patreon. You can find 15 Advanced Chapters on my Patreon! B1 Chapter 16 - Upgrade Receptionist Olivia stared at the youth opposite the counter, her lips parting and closing repetitively. She had so much to say, but not a single word escaped her lips. In the meantime, Percy smiled brightly at her. His vibrant smile was a huge contrast to his appearance. His clothes were drenched in blood and sweat, his entire body was riddled with tiny cuts, and he didn¡¯t look well overall, either. Percy was evidently exhausted and in pain, yet he smiled vibrantly at Olivia, sliding a small parchment across the counter. ¡°I hope I¡¯m not too late. I know we should accept missions before going into the wild, but it shouldn¡¯t matter whether I hunt first before accepting guild missions, right?¡± The parchment was a guild mission, and the description was rather simple. The quest giver requested the death of five Berserk Rabbits. They asked for the Berserk Rabbits¡¯ ears to prove the kills. They were of no value and thus not relevant to Percy. Olivia took a few seconds to respond to Percy. One of her coworkers nudged Olivia in the back, and she squealed in surprise. Olivia¡¯s ears flushed, and she was having difficulty maintaining her composure, yet she somehow did it ¡°If you do not care about the experience guild missions provide, it doesn¡¯t matter. However, the whole purpose of accepting guild missions is money and the additional experience.¡± Percy didn¡¯t understand the experience system and how guild missions were supposed to improve his Tier, but the same applied to his Ego. His Ego used Prosperity to upgrade his Tier somehow. Maybe the Guild learned how to reproduce a similar principle with guild missions. ¡°Okay, but that means I can accept and complete this quest¡­¡± He points at the parchment before rushing back to the wall of missions ¨C as fast as his pained and exhausted body allowed him to move. Percy returned with another parchment, a request to hunt three Berserk Rabbits, ¡°And this mission.¡± Olivia looked at the pieces of parchment before her attention drifted to Percy, who was about to retrieve the Berserk Rabbits from his large bag. ¡°Their ears are enough. We don¡¯t need their bodies, or do you want to sell them to the Guild?¡± Percy pulled the Berserk Rabbits back and unsheathed his dagger after ensuring he was allowed. Olivia gestured to him to proceed. She wasn¡¯t too worried about getting jumped at. ¡°I would like to keep the corpses. Merchant Erdwin offered me a decent price yesterday,¡± He said quietly while getting started. Percy unsheathed the dagger and worked swiftly. He severed the monsters¡¯ ears and put them on a piece of cloth, which Olivia had retrieved. Olivia counted them and nodded. ¡°Usually, we would have to confirm a few things: Usually your Bronze Guild Emblem updates your mission progress and confirms your contribution in the hunt,¡± Olivia explained before looking at Percy¡¯s rough appearance, ¡°But you clearly had a ¡®fun¡¯ time with some rabbits. That¡¯s for sure.¡± She smiled at Percy, who could only curse quietly, ¡°It would have been great if the Berserk Rabbits had been my only problem.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Nothing important. Don¡¯t mind me,¡± Percy responded with a smile. Olivia didn¡¯t inquire any further. She retrieved ten copper coins and slid them over to Percy, ¡°You picked the missions with the lowest reward. We have a plague of Berserk Rabbits this year, so you might not find many profitable missions related to them. But don¡¯t be dissatisfied. You can still earn a small fortune from selling their corpses. They¡¯re still worth a fair bit.¡± Percy pocketed the copper with a smile, ¡°I know. I¡¯m not dissatisfied.¡± But he was curious. ¡°How extensive is the plague of Berserk Rabbits? I encountered the pack of eight Berserk Rabbits quite quickly but didn¡¯t see any other Berserk Rabbits on my way.¡± Yesterday, the Berserk Rabbits pack wasn¡¯t big, either. Is there really a ¨C... ¡°We hired some Adventurers to focus on their dens specifically. They kill more than a hundred Berserk Rabbits every day, which is still not enough to contain all of them,¡± Olivia explained before Percy could finish his thoughts. ¡°Oh¡­¡± That was good to know. Maybe he had to prepare better for potential encounters with packs of dozens of Berserk Rabbits. ¡°Thank you for telling me,¡± Percy thanked Olivia. He sheathed the dagger once he realized that it still rested in his hand and turned around to leave the Guildhall. ¡°Have a nice day. See you tomorrow, or maybe later today. I might come back to read some more.¡± He left the Guildhall after that and headed to Butcher Kevin. Meanwhile, Tom, the male receptionist from before, appeared next to Olivia, ¡°Do you want to bet that he did not only fight Berserk Rabbits?¡± ¡°Did you see his dagger? It was drenched in blood and cracked. Fighting a bunch of Berserk Rabbits doesn¡¯t create such cracks.¡± Tom nodded, ¡°At first, I was surprised to see a kid like him with such a good dagger, but it¡¯s already broken. What a shame.¡± ¡°Stop talking like that, ¡°Olivia said sternly, studying Tom briefly. ¡°What? He is a fun kid. A lot more than I expected from his kind.¡± ¡°Your prejudices and betting addiction will kill you,¡± Olivia sighed deeply. ¡°Is that an invitation to a bet?¡± Tom winked. ¡°Scram.¡± ** Butcher Kevin was busy with other jobs but promised to preserve the Berserk Rabbits and finish them in a few hours. He couldn¡¯t promise anything but said he should be done by afternoon. Percy wasn¡¯t in a hurry and left with a smile. He returned to the inn, ready to change clothes and relax a little when Bertha found him. She cursed him quietly for looking like a mud-wallowing pig and urged him to use the well in the backyard to clean up before coming inside. That was what Percy did. He cleaned up properly before changing into his other set of clothes. His attention was drawn to a subtle change in the interface. [Set of Clothes(Linen)¨C Low Quality¨C 0 Prosperity] The quality of his linen clothes deteriorated from average quality to low quality. That was interesting and unexpected. Why did the quality decrease? The clothes are damaged and drenched in blood like the iron dagger, but its quality deteriorated. Shouldn¡¯t there be a Damaged tag as well? Percy was confused, but he had a theory. He searched for Bertha and showed her both the iron dagger and the blood-drenched linen clothes. ¡°I know you¡¯re no expert, but do you think I can repair the dagger and the clothes?¡± He cleaned the dagger at the well so the faint cracks in the blade were visible. Bertha was busy cleaning the inn but put the cleaning rag aside to study the dagger. She nodded slowly while appraising the weapon and smiled. ¡°The dagger shouldn¡¯t be a problem. As long as you don¡¯t try to hack through any fortified bones, it won¡¯t break. Repairing might be worth it, but you might as well purchase a new dagger and sharpen it properly instead. I¡¯m not sure if it¡¯s worth it,¡± Bertha shrugged lightly before scowling at the clothes, ¡°Don¡¯t even try to get this much blood out of linen clothes. You¡¯re better off purchasing new clothes. Linen clothes of that quality tear too easily, and their properties change once they are soaked in blood. I doubt it¡¯s necessary to go into detail, but blood-soaked linen clothes will fall apart after a few days and smell awful.¡± This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. Percy thanked Bertha for sharing her opinion. He retrieved his dagger and returned to his room. The dagger can be fixed without losing quality, but the clothes will be permanently damaged. Thus, the quality will decrease. That makes sense. It was annoying, but he would have to purchase new linen clothes once every few days. ¡°Maybe I should buy clothes made from better materials soon. Or a proper armor¡­when I have more money,¡± Percy mumbled, his eyes drifting to the iron dagger. He put it on his bed and studied its interface for a while. Do I need a new dagger? This one won¡¯t survive another fight with monsters like the Hill Hog mother. And that was just a Common Monster like the Berserk Rabbits. It won¡¯t break against Berserk Rabbits, but how can I fight with everything I¡¯ve got if I cannot even rely on my weapon? I¡¯m putting my life on the line¡­ But even if Percy needed a dagger, it wouldn¡¯t be enough to purchase an iron dagger like the one on his bed. It was not durable enough even though Percy had used 30 Prosperity to upgrade it. I guess the blade didn¡¯t break because of the upgrade. An ordinary iron dagger would have shattered mid-battle. Thinking about his Ego and the dagger¡¯s upgrade, Percy used [Consume] on Prosperity. I don¡¯t have much money on my hands, but what about my Prosperity? There is a¡­bit¡­ The iron dagger before him was already stronger than an ordinary iron dagger, but was it possible to go even further? Percy focused intently on the silverish-golden threads around him and noticed a subtle change. The silverish-golden threads separated from him and connected to the interfaces all around him. The other end connected to the iron dagger, his leather bag, the leather pouch, and his clothes remained, but some interfaces changed as the silverish-golden threads merged into them. Iron Dagger Damaged/Average Quality 36(76) Prosperity What¡¯s the use of this cha¨C...Ohh.. Something new formed in the interface. Something was added. Iron Dagger Damaged/Average Quality 36(76) Prosperity [Reinforce], [Sharpness] The words [Reinforce] and [Sharpness] appeared in the interface but were barely visible and crossed out. But despite being barely visible, Percy noticed something particular right away. [Sharpness]¡¯s glow is stronger. Percy first thought the words were related to enchantments because he saw an image of an Artifact¡¯s interface drawn in one of the books Olivia had given him to read. However, all Percy could recall about Artifacts was that they had special effects, which were added through Runic Enchantments. They were infused with mana to create these special effects. His knowledge wasn¡¯t anything special, but it was weird that the words were crossed out and Sharpness was brighter than Reinforce. Following his gut feeling, Percy stopped using [Consume] for a second to affirm one of many theories. [Iron Dagger ¨C Damaged/Average Quality ¨C 36(76) Prosperity] ¡°The interface changes only when I use [Consume] on Prosperity. So it¡¯s related¡­like I guessed,¡± Percy smiled and used [Consume] on Prosperity again. This time, he didn¡¯t waste any time and willed his Ego to use Prosperity on [Reinforce] [Iron Dagger¡¯s Durability improved. 20 Prosperity has been deducted.] Percy nodded slowly, his hair standing up to its end while inspecting everything around him, the interfaces and the iron dagger. The gray crossed-out area of [Reinforce] glimmered weakly, but the glow was more apparent, and it was more visible. It gained color after 20 Prosperity was added to improve the dagger¡¯s durability. That was what Percy had been hoping for. He used more Prosperity. [Iron Dagger¡¯s Durability improved. 30 Prosperity has been deducted.] [Reinforce]¡¯s lit up. It glowed brighter than [Sharpness] after using Prosperity for the second time. Simultaneously, Percy felt a subtle change in the iron dagger¡¯s appearance. It wasn¡¯t much, but the metal was slightly darker than before. Percy licked his lips and let his mana stir. The mana within him surged to his weapon, which began glowing and vibrating like in the battle against the Hill Hog. However, this time, the vibration didn¡¯t seem to inflict any damage to the iron dagger. The mana conductivity shouldn¡¯t have improved from increasing the durability. If anything, the iron dagger can endure the meager amount of mana I¡¯ve infused better than before, thanks to the durability enhancement. It¡¯s sturdier than it used to be when it was still undamaged. Percy flashed a smile at the iron dagger and chose to go one step further. Maybe¡­ [Iron Dagger¡¯s Durability improved. 49 Prosperity has been deducted.] Or not The iron dagger¡¯s color darkened again, but the change he had hoped for didn¡¯t appear. He expected something to change about [Reinforce] after infusing 100 Prosperity into it¡­but it didn¡¯t work like that. Percy tried using more Prosperity on [Reinforce], yet not a single Prosperity was drained. It didn¡¯t work. The [Reinforce] tag was still crossed out, but the dagger was sturdier than before ¨C sturdier than any iron dagger Percy had seen in his short life. The tag glowed brightly as well. Is that the limit? It was a little disappointing, yet not really. Percy knew he shouldn¡¯t feel dissatisfied and disappointed. If anything, he should be happy. With that in mind, Percy also tried using Prosperity on [Sharpness]. [Iron Dagger¡¯s Blade has been enhanced. 69 Prosperity has been deducted.] [Sharpness] stayed crossed out like [Reinforce], but both tags were clearly visible and glowed faintly. Only 99 Prosperity could be used on each of the tags¡­ 100 Prosperity is a threshold for the iron dagger¡­ It¡¯s something an iron dagger of average quality cannot cross. No. I don¡¯t know if it¡¯s because of the quality, material¡­or maybe both? Percy was curious about the answer, but he knew it would remain uncertain. That was fine. Percy made a mental note for later and smiled at the iron dagger after releasing his control of [Consume]. [Iron Dagger ¨C Average Quality ¨C 184(216) Prosperity] He noted the disappearance of ¡®Damaged¡¯ but also that two different numbers were still added to Prosperity. The dagger is not in perfect shape, but was using Prosperity to enhance the dagger¡¯s durability enough to remove the Damaged label? Or rather, the damage is still there, but it doesn¡¯t affect the dagger much. The damage is not extensive enough to label it damaged anymore¡­ Percy predicted that the dagger¡¯s foundation was strengthened alongside the rest of the weapon through increased durability. That didn¡¯t mend the damage inflicted on the blade but made it considerably more challenging to destroy the blade. That was¡­better than expected, even if it drained most of his Prosperity reserves. I won¡¯t have to replace the iron dagger, so I made a profit. Hunting another Hill Hog with this blade will be much easier. He improved his dagger and learned new things about his Ego¡¯s abilities and limits. That was more than he could have hoped for. It didn¡¯t cost much either. Still, he was curious about the crossed-out tags of the iron dagger. It tormented his mind. I cannot use more Prosperity to the dagger. Does that mean Enchantments are too taxing to be added to the iron dagger, and the Ego doesn¡¯t allow me to add the runic enchantments because of that limitation¡­or do I have too little Prosperity to complete the final step and add a runic enchantment? Maybe 100 is a threshold, but what if¡­ Percy was deep in thought. He figured from the goods in Erdwin¡¯s shop that Artifacts were worth a fortune. Maybe his Prosperity was the only reason he couldn¡¯t add a runic enchantment on the iron dagger. Or, which would be a shame that his Ego couldn¡¯t add runic enchantments. ¡°But if that¡¯s the case, it wouldn¡¯t show me the option¡­right?¡± Percy had a lot to mull over, but he knew there was no conclusion. He learned a lot today, but his understanding of the Coin of Prosperity and [Consume] was too low. One step at a time. I¡¯m not in a rush. Calm down and¡­ His stomach grumbled. ¡­eat something! ** Patreon has already been launched. If you''re interested in reading more about Percy''s story, go ahead and join my Patreon. You can find 15 Advanced Chapters on my Patreon! B1 Chapter 17 - Silvers Value After fighting, running around, replenishing his mana, and experimenting with his Ego, Percy was hungry again. He considered going to Leonhard first but stopped by Bertha¡¯s diner when a waft of herbs and cooked meat splashed into his face. Percy spent half an hour ¨C and a few copper coins ¨C before leaving the Angel¡¯s Brew Inn. He stayed at the Inn for another night, spending seven copper coins before he paved his way to Leonhard. The baker didn¡¯t expect him today but was pleasantly surprised about Percy¡¯s appearance. He teased Percy, who retrieved several coins to purchase some of his more expensive pastries. Since his mana replenished faster with a full stomach, Percy didn¡¯t hesitate to fill his tummy with delicious food in the Angel¡¯s Brew Inn and the bakery. His stomach was full, his mana stirred vigorously, and he was in a great mood. The only issue was his coin pouch. He spent 11 copper coins in the Angel¡¯s Brew Inn ¨C including the room for the night ¨C and six copper coins buying some of the more expensive cookies. It was the most costly food Percy had eaten since he could remember. The prices were outrageous, but the taste was heavenly, and his stomach was happy. Last, Percy wasn¡¯t the same as he used to be. His mindset was still poor and required more time to adjust, but his coin pouch and pockets were bound to be filled by the end of the day. Or maybe not. Once he finished his purchases, Percy talked a little longer with Leonhard. The baker was the first to help Percy when he gained access to mana. He was most grateful to him. ¡°I know I¡¯m not strong, and I don¡¯t have much money to give you, but is there anything you need help with? I don¡¯t know anything about baking or the baking business but I want to help you¡­¡± Percy declared as they chatted. Even though Percy didn¡¯t have much to talk about other than giving great detailed reports about his fights and the sensation of mana coursing through his veins, he was fairly good at listening. ¡°You want to help me? That¡¯s not necessary. You¡¯ve been buying lots of pastry and bread already,¡± Leonhard waved his hand dismissively but noticed Percy¡¯s intense stare with a wry smile, ¡°Are you sure?¡± Percy nodded, the determination in his eyes burning fiercely. Leonhard chuckled and patted Percy¡¯s back, ¡°If you want to help me, how about you grow stronger? Once you¡¯re strong enough to search the forest for magical herbs. I¡¯ve been experimenting with some recipes to add more nutrients and magical properties to them, but most products fail.¡± ¡°Imagine recuperating mana from eating a cookie or accelerating your natural regeneration by munching a cake!¡± ¡°You want to mix alchemy with baking?¡± Percy asked curiously. ¡°Not exactly, but I noticed some herbs have a strong effect if treated in a specific way. I can combine these treatments into the cooking process to create fairly priced mana-infused baking products,¡± Leonhard exclaimed, his entire being filled with excitement, ¡°The only issue is that most herbs and other products are quite expensive. They¡¯re not uncommon, but too many monsters can be found near them. It¡¯s difficult to reach and collect them without damaging their magical properties. Thus, the merchants and Guild are selling them for a disgustingly high price, and only in small quantities.¡± Percy nodded, still smiling. ¡°You want me to find those herbs for you?¡± ¡°That would be great. I will still pay you for putting your life in danger ¨C I would go myself but had to give up my career as an Adventurer because of an injury ¨C but I would appreciate your help. Of course, only once you¡¯re strong enough to enter the forest freely,¡± Leonhard said, his voice filled with complex emotions when he mentioned his injury. Percy didn¡¯t ask anything but continued listening. ¡°If you could accept my request at the Guild, you can also gain some experience collecting the herbs and other plants I need.¡± Suddenly, seeing the glimmer in Percy¡¯s eyes, Leonhard hesitated. ¡°No. Forget about that. Don¡¯t help me.¡± Seeing the fire in Percy¡¯s eyes, he winced, ¡°Ignore my request!¡± ¡°Why? I can do it! I want to help you!¡± ¡°No! Leave¡­ I have work to do!¡± Leonhard¡¯s attitude changed drastically. His kind smile was replaced by anger. However, the anger wasn¡¯t directed at Percy. It was directed at himself. ¡°But I¨C...¡± ¡°Leave!!¡± Leonhard bellowed suddenly. Percy flinched and stepped back as a wave of mana erupted from Leonhard. He swallowed hard, his expression twisted beyond comparison. What is wrong? Percy wanted to ask, but he didn¡¯t dare to. He retreated further and reached the door to leave the bakery. ¡°I¡­will be back tomorrow¡­put some cookies aside for me¡­please¡­¡± Percy swallowed hard. He had no clue what was going on but decided to run. Maybe Leonhard would be in a better mood tomorrow. He left in a hurry, leaving the baker alone in his little shop. I can look for his request at the Guild and help him even if he says he doesn¡¯t need my help right now. But why was he so angry? If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Percy walked through Raewood, still thinking about the baker¡¯s behavior, until he reached the butcher¡¯s shop. It was unlikely that Kevin would be done before afternoon, but Percy gave it a try. He entered the shop, hoping Kevin would distract him. The baker¡¯s mood swings bothered him. ¡°You are early,¡± Kevin greeted him. Percy smiled, but his mind was still with Leonhard, ¡°But I¡¯m already done. The Berserk Rabbits were easier to dissect than the last batch.¡± He smiled at Percy and ignored the youth¡¯s somber expression, ¡°I will keep the meat, organs, brain, and bones again. Here are 17 copper coins for the meat, excluding the discount for my pay, and the pelt, eyes, and paws.¡± He earned as much as he¡¯d spent in the last hour. And I have yet to fight Erdwin. Percy¡¯s lips curled up in amusement. He studied the interfaces for every body part intently and licked his lips. It was time to get some money from Erdwin! It didn¡¯t take long to collect everything in his bag. Once everything was stored, he waved Butcher Kevin goodbye and left. His journey was short, and he ended up unpacking everything on Erdwin¡¯s counter. ¡°You¡¯re back already. Let me che¨C...¡± Erdwin couldn¡¯t even finish the sentence when Percy intervened. ¡°120 copper coins for everything.¡± Erdwin raised an eyebrow. He grunted and complained about the younger generation''s rudeness but continued inspecting the goods. ¡°I can give you 60 copper.¡± ¡°Nope. Yesterday, you said you would give me two copper coins for a Berserk Rabbit¡¯s eyeball. Each eyeball! And there are two eyeballs of better quality than the rest, so I¡¯m asking for 20 copper coins for all eyeballs. The quality of the other items is the same ¨C if not better ¨C than the goods I sold you yesterday. I made sure to avoid damaging the fur as much as possible,¡± Percy shook his head and lifted one finger, ¡°One silver for everything, or I will pack up and go to the Guild.¡± Erdwin scrutinized Percy for what felt like an eternity before he chuckled lightly. ¡°That¡¯s fair,¡± He retrieved one silver from his pocket and slid it across the counter. Percy pocketed the silver quickly before Erdwin could change his mind. ¡°You¡¯re still a rookie, but it¡¯s surprising how fast you¡¯re improving,¡± The merchant noted as he packed the body parts. ¡°I¡¯m not that strong yet. Berserk Rabbits are simple to hunt once you know how they move,¡± Percy shook his head, but Erdwin shook his head. ¡°I never talked about your hunting skills,¡± He smiled, ¡°Your bartering skills are improving fast. Most wouldn¡¯t be able to change this quickly. Your demeanor is nothing like it used to be, which is a little shocker. Nobody changes overnight. At least, that¡¯s not how it is supposed to be possible.¡± Erdwin shrugged, ¡°But maybe you¡¯ve always been confident, and your only issue was that everyone around you was either stronger or an ass. I don¡¯t know about your past, and I¡¯m not going to question you, but I¡¯m curious about your future.¡± Percy didn¡¯t expect that and stared blankly at Erdwin, who chuckled, ¡°Maybe I was a little hasty with my assessment.¡± ¡°Do you want to purchase something, or will I see you again tomorrow?¡± Erdwin changed the subject. Percy was about to unsheath the iron dagger and show it to Erdwin to appraise the weapon and maybe even sell it to purchase something of better quality, but he hesitated. Wouldn¡¯t it be weird if my dagger changed suddenly? I was poor until a few days ago, and Erdwin knows that. He knows I shouldn¡¯t have an iron dagger like that¡­ No. Don¡¯t show it yet. He smiled at the merchant and nodded, ¡°I should be back tomorrow. My bartering skills won¡¯t improve on their own, after all.¡± Percy left Erdwin behind, ignoring the merchant¡¯s hideous grin. He retrieved the silver coin from his pouch in his room in the Angel¡¯s Brew Inn. Putting aside that he earned a little fortune in half a day, Percy was more interested in the coin¡¯s interface. [Silver Coin ¨C Ordinary ¨C 105 Prosperity] Percy rubbed his eyes, but nothing changed. The silver coin could be consumed for 105 Prosperity. That was¡­unexpected. One silver is worth 100 copper coins. But 100 copper is worth 100 Prosperity, yet the silver coin is worth 105 Prosperity¡­ Percy tilted his head, his mind drifting farther than usual, ¡°Does the same apply to gold?¡± He chuckled lightly, ¡°I¡¯m getting ahead of myself again.¡± At first, Percy considered going to another merchant to purchase cheap leather armor. Today¡¯s battle showed Percy that he was still too weak and that his body needed additional protection. After upgrading his dagger, Percy felt more protected. However, he was not satisfied. His survivability was still not high enough. Therefore, instead of going down the same path as others ¨C to purchase some leather armor ¨C Percy decided to tread a different path. Darkness shot out of his palm, swallowing the silver coin before he could have any second thoughts. [Silver Coin has been consumed. 105 Prosperity has been added.] Once the silver coin was consumed and the Prosperity added, Percy used [Consume] again. He applied [Consume] on Prosperity and summoned his interface. [75 Prosperity has been deducted.] [Your Tier increased by one rank] I thought it would cost 100 Pros¡ª His thought was interrupted by an incoming stream of mana. There was so much of it, and everything was absorbed greedily. Percy shuddered in excitement as the cooling sensation stirred inside him. The streams of mana entering his body swept through him and merged with the mana Percy had accumulated since this morning. His body creaked and groaned, draining his nutrients to strengthen Percy rapidly. It wasn¡¯t a surprise to him when his stomach grumbled again. He got up, ready to return to Bertha and eat something. Still, he sighed deeply. ¡°I just ate something¡­¡± Unfortunately, his body didn¡¯t care. It was in dire need of nutrients. As for Percy, he required a more muscular body. Eating, no matter how expensive it would be, was bound to help him achieve that. ** Patreon has already been launched. If you''re interested in reading more about Percy''s story, go ahead and join my Patreon. You can find 15 Advanced Chapters on my Patreon! B1 Chapter 18 - Rank-Up ¡°You probably starved to death in your past life,¡± Bertha commented when she brought him the fourth plate filled with meat, baked potatoes, and a nutritious vegetable soup. She didn¡¯t sound shocked about his seemingly endless hunger and teased him instead. Percy had no time to respond to Bertha. Hunger had taken over his body. The same hunger drained seven copper coins from his pouch. That was worth it! He rubbed his belly in satisfaction. Maybe it was a little over the top to splurge more than a dozen copper coins on meals spread across the day, but Percy didn¡¯t mind it as much as before. Eating strengthened his body, especially after a rank-up. His muscles were growing slowly and he was also amassing some meat on his bones. Percy had been skin and bones for most of his life, so the change was appreciated. His body tried to break out of that habit now that his mana stimulated his muscle growth, but it required a lot more nutrients to supply the mana and supplement enough nutrients to natural growth and recovery. One way or another, Percy didn¡¯t feel as stingy as he used to be. Growing stronger increased his survivability in the wilderness. As long as he was strong enough, Percy could hunt more monsters in the wilderness¡­stronger monsters. That would earn more money, which could then be used to buy even more food, among other things. Once Percy finished his afternoon meal, he returned to the Guildhall. He greeted the staff with a smile and flashed his teeth toward Dave and his friend. Dave responded with a grimace, which startled some Adventurers. Percy chuckled and returned to his tower of books after checking the guild mission to look for Leonhard¡¯s gathering mission. There were some material-gathering missions, which made it a bit difficult to pinpoint the baker¡¯s mission. However, he found it after thorough research. The rewards were the lowest among all material-gathering missions, but Percy didn¡¯t mind. He checked the mission content and registered the mission under his name at the counter before welcoming his books inside the library. Nobody returned the books to their shelves, which was what Percy had hoped for. He reached for the book atop the tower and sat down to get started. Back to studying. Studying was the best he could do right now. It was necessary to catch up to the other Adventurers, who were physically stronger than him, well-trained, and more experienced. Percy was still frail and inexperienced, and his knowledge was lacking. To top that, he was currently injured ¨C even if that was presently solved by the excessive mana coursing through him ¨C preventing him from training like others. Thus, until his wounds were healed tomorrow, Percy could study to increase his survivability even more. It helped him survive against the pack of Berserk Rabbits and overcome certain deaths facing the Hill Hog mother. However, Percy wasn¡¯t satisfied. He needed more! ** Percy¡¯s routine for the next three days was simple. He would get up with the rising sun and eat his fill at the Angel¡¯s Brew Inn while chatting with Bertha. Once his stomach was filled, Percy would visit the Guildhall to listen to the daily news shared by the receptionists before picking a few simple missions to complete. The missions weren¡¯t his primary focus, but Percy wanted to experience the life of an Adventurer while looking for ways to help Leonhard. He looked out for Leonhard¡¯s herbs but didn¡¯t manage to enter the deeper parts of the forest. In fact, Percy never stayed long in the outskirts of the forest either. Most of the time, he was discovered by a bunch of Berserk Rabbits, whose population transformed slowly into a problem. On the first day, Percy managed to hunt a pack of 11 Berserk Rabbits. That was easier than expected. His blade easily cut through the Berserk Rabbits, and he wasn¡¯t even close to sustaining an injury. After advancing to Mortal-3, Percy was faster than the Berserk Rabbits. Once done hunting, Percy returned to Raewood to meet Kevin. He returned to the Guildhall and studied until his stomach notified him to fulfill his sacred duty: to eat more. He ate something at the Angel¡¯s Brew Inn and treated himself to a few cookies at the bakery. Percy avoided talking about Leonhard¡¯s mission, but the baker seemed to have noticed something. He was still kind, but something about their relationship had changed. Or was it about to change? Percy was unsure, but he didn¡¯t like it. After eating, he visited the butcher to get the Berserk Rabbits¡¯ pelts, paws, and eyes, alongside some copper coins for the monster meat. Negotiating with Erdwin was rather fun. That was unexpected but not something Percy disliked. On the contrary, negotiating with Erdwin was quite calming. Percy returned to the Guildhall with a small fortune in his pockets, where he focused on studying again. The second and third days passed similarly. Percy completed some missions, earned a decent reward, and hunted a bunch of Berserk Rabbits. On the second day, he discovered two packs of five and eight Berserk Rabbits, and on the third day, he was surprised by a pack of a dozen Berserk Rabbits after he¡¯d already hunted two smaller packs. In total, Percy managed to slay 46 Berserk Rabbits in three days. That was a lot, but Percy wasn¡¯t too excited about hunting this kind of monster anymore. He disliked himself for not daring to enter the deeper parts of the forest¡­for failing to complete Leonhard¡¯s mission. That was how Percy entered the forest with more ambition on the fourth day. Unexpectedly enough, Percy discovered a lone, dying Gnoll not even five minutes after entering the forest. The feral, hyena-headed humanoid monster didn¡¯t notice Percy at first. It was too busy dying from the massive gashes covering its chest, back, and neck. From his understanding of Gnolls and how they¡¯ve been described in the Beginner Monstrology, Percy knew that the average Gnoll was a monster at the Peak of the Common Rank. That was above his weight class, but Percy didn¡¯t think rationally at this moment.. All he could see was a dying monster. It might have been strong in the past, but it was weak and on the verge of death. Meanwhile, Percy had grown stronger. He attacked the Gnoll with overwhelming confidence. And was humbled by the dying humanoid beast right away. This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. ¡­ Percy survived, but he groaned in unbearable pain and winced as fountains of blood poured down his arms and legs. He was lucky to be alive and not to end up impaled by the Gnoll¡¯s spear. The humanoid monster had been closer to death than expected, yet it fought valiantly, attacking Percy in ways he never expected to be attacked. Fighting a Gnoll wielding a spear was different from hunting some Berserk Rabbits or to killing a raging Hill Hog. I am such a brickheaded idiot! Percy cursed himself, staring at the Gnoll''s corpse, while the strength in his legs threatened to leave him. He didn¡¯t have a drop of mana left in his body either. Percy had been forced to infuse the iron dagger with mana to block the Gnoll¡¯s spear thrust and sever its already injured hand. Unexpectedly, the situation worsened after the Gnoll lost the ability to wield its spear. The monster released the weapon and pounced on Percy, scratching and biting him, ready to shred his throat into a mass of flesh and blood. In its wild and uncontrollable rage, the Gnoll jumped straight into Percy¡¯s dagger, which dug deep into the monster¡¯s chest, but that was also how his arms and legs transformed into a bloody mess. The monster missed his neck but its claws cut deep into his arms, legs and chest. Tears welled in his eyes as certain death approached him. But he was not dead yet, and crying about it wouldn¡¯t help him survive either. He had to make a decision. Percy was injured and exhausted. He was still in the forest and too far from the town to reach it with the little strength reserves he¡¯d left. A small pack of Berserk Rabbits might as well be enough to land the finishing blow in his state. His eyes hovered on a bunch of interfaces for a second. [Gnoll ¨C Elderly/Corrupted ¨C 632 Prosperity] [Gnoll¡¯s Spear ¨C Damaged/Trash Quality ¨C 154(442) Prosperity] [Gnoll¡¯s Leather Armor ¨C Damaged/Trash Quality ¨C 84(209) Prosperity] Darkness burst from Percy¡¯s hand as he unleashed [Consume]. The darkness expanded, revealing several rows of razor-sharp teeth, which dug deep into the Gnoll¡¯s flesh as they swallowed the Gnoll and his armaments. The sound of breaking bones resounded before eerie silence filled the surroundings. As the darkness retracted, a new interface appeared before Percy. [Goods worth 870 Prosperity have been consumed.] Once [Consume]¡¯s effect ended, Percy felt something change. His Prosperity skyrocketed, but that was only the beginning. Something he¡¯d been waiting for happened. At last, a mana flood infiltrated his mana-drained body from all sides. [Your Tier increased by one rank] That¡¯s exactly what I needed! The corner of his lips curled into a victorious smile. Ranking up using normal means was a lot slower than using Prosperity. That was one of the many things he¡¯d learned in the last few days. But what surprised Percy a little was that his rank didn¡¯t increase even though he¡¯d used his Ego dozens of times daily. The day before, Percy was tired of waiting any longer. He¡¯d been using Prosperity on his leather pouch, bag, and clothes, trying to give lame excuses by telling himself that he had to test a few things. It might be important to find out if he could use his Ego to add Enchantments to his Armaments ¨C possibly to create a spatial storage with the Coin of Prosperity ¨C but Percy was more focused on how to use his Ego to accelerate his rank up efficiently to produce any usable results. His progress was still slow in his eyes, but Percy learned something important. Using his Ego to consume bigger things ¨C rewarding more Prosperity ¨C accelerated his rank up much more than using [Consume] on smaller objects, whether it was to devour them for their Prosperity or to upgrade them. That was why he needed the Gnoll corpse: To rank-up and embrace the mana flood. But the excitement of finally upgrading his rank was quickly replaced with a pained groan. The surge of mana filled him with vigor, yet Percy could tell that his wounds wouldn¡¯t stop bleeding anytime soon. He continued bleeding severely, and it was only a matter of time before he would bleed to death. At least the rank-up gave him enough strength to run back to Raewood. That was necessary if he didn¡¯t want to attract any more monsters. He was already in danger, his life on the line, and couldn¡¯t afford to stay idle. Percy wasted no time and rushed back. He emerged in the open plains through the forest¡¯s thickets and charged back to the town, only to feel the strength leaving his legs much faster than expected. Blood spurted out of the deep gashes all over his arms and legs as he rushed back home. His sight grew hazy, and it wasn¡¯t long before Percy struggled to keep walking. Thus, he did something to fill his body with vigor once more. Give me another rank up! Percy screamed in his mind, but [Consume] didn¡¯t trigger. It activated but didn¡¯t follow his will to use his accumulated Prosperity to give him another rank up. Why?! Percy panicked momentarily but called upon his interface instead of giving up. ¡ºPercy ¡» [Ego ¨C Coin of Prosperity] [Tier] ¨C [Mortal-4] ¡ª [Empty] ¡ºCoin of Prosperity¡» Prosperity: 879 ?Consume He reacted instinctively and tapped his leather pouch while using [Consume] [Two Silver Coins have been consumed. 210 Prosperity has been added.] ¡°Rank up!!!¡± Percy cursed between two heavy breaths, willing his Ego to follow his command. It obeyed. [1000 Prosperity have been deducted.] [Your Tier increased by one rank] Following the second rank up in quick succession, Percy was once more filled with a surge of mana and vigor. He was filled to the brim, enough to clear his vision. Percy¡¯s legs felt like he was standing amid a wildfire, but he ignored the pain and focused on the strength filling his entire body. He didn¡¯t know how long the strength would stay by his side and rushed back to Raewood even faster. Vigor and uncontrollable hunger filled Percy¡¯s entire benign. Yet, upon arriving before Raewood¡¯s gates, something changed. The vigor dispersed, and the pain crashed down like a dam. An exhausted scream escaped Percy¡¯s lips. It wasn¡¯t loud, but it was enough to warn the guards. He was familiar with them and smiled through the pain. I will be fine¡­ A moment later, the world around him turned dark. B1 Chapter 19 - Training Percy regained consciousness when something bitter-sweet trickled down his throat. His eyes shot open, and he coughed up, only to find a smooth hand covering his mouth. The hand pressed against his lips, forcing Percy to swallow the viscous liquid. ¡°Do you want to kill me?¡± Percy barely managed to ask when the smooth hand retracted. ¡°You are pretty good at killing yourself. I don¡¯t think I have to help with that,¡± Olivia responded, flicking his forehead with enough force to hurt him. It was supposed to hurt. Percy groaned and rubbed his head, but he froze in his tracks. His arm didn¡¯t hurt. ¡°There is no pain?¡± He tilted his head, pushed his body from the table ¨C not knowing when he ended up on the wooden counter in the Guildhall ¨C and inspected his body. The gashes all over his body didn¡¯t disappear, but the bleeding had stopped. The wounds healed at a visible pace. ¡°You should be fine now. I used one of the Guild¡¯s emergency healing potions. Eat a lot and sleep early, and you should be fine,¡± Olivia explained. Percy nodded slowly, his attention lingering on the empty vial. Note to myself. Buy some potions in case some Gnolls tear you apart again! Percy¡¯s gaze must have lingered too long on the vial. Olivia flicked his forehead again and smiled at him when Percy turned to stare at her. ¡°You don¡¯t have to pay anything. The Guild is covering the expenses for emergency healing potions. They might be a little bit more expensive than the norm, but the Guild likes to keep their Adventurers alive, after all,¡± She winked and turned around before facing a particular batch of files. A heavy sigh escaped her lips, ¡°The only trouble with emergency healing potions is the paperwork.¡± A young man appeared next to Percy. It was a staff member of the Guild. What was his name again? Thomas? Or was it Tom? I think he was Tom, the betting addict. ¡°Can you tell us what happened?¡± Tom asked while studying his wounds, ¡°You are a rather low-ranked Adventurer, but the wounds don¡¯t fit any low-ranked monster I remember. Furthermore, Olivia must write a detailed report to justify using the emergency healing potion, otherwise, she will be pu¨C...¡± A loud clasp rang through the surroundings as Olivia slapped Tom on the shoulder, ¡°Look how tired he is. Let him eat and rest first. I will write the report once he feels better!¡± ¡°Do you feel pain or anything, or are you fine now?¡± Olivia asked in worry. ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± Percy nodded. Other than feeling hungry, he was doing much better than expected. ¡°I¡¯m still alive thanks to you.¡± He swallowed hard. ¡°Thank you!¡± If he hadn¡¯t upgraded his Tier, gaining the influx of mana and vigor simultaneously, Percy wouldn¡¯t have made it to Raewood. Logically speaking, Percy should be dead. ¡°I¡¯m glad you¡¯re still alive,¡± Olivia smiled before waving him off, ¡°Now go and eat something. Sleep and then come back to help me with the report.¡± Percy nodded and left. He felt the eyes of many linger on him and heard some murmurs, but ignored most of them. All he imprinted into his mind was to thank the guards for bringing him to the Guildhall. They saved his life, just like Olivia. But before thanking anyone, Percy had to eat something. He¡¯d expected to feel like a starving beast after two influxes of mana swept through him, but the healing potion must have filled him with some nutrients. He was still starving, his body demanding more nutrients, but it wasn¡¯t that bad. His physique improved over the last few days, and he¡¯d amassed some meat on his bones by now. The mana influx from ranking up and the healing potions must have tapped into the nutrients in his flesh to keep him alive and tend to his wounds. Percy¡¯s sense of time was odd. Everything around him blurred at some point and he found himself in the Angel¡¯s Brew Inn devouring a shocking amount of food. Bertha said something to him, but Percy recalled that she didn¡¯t question his appearance or wounds. She merely studied him before he disappeared in his room. It was already evening when Percy woke up. He found Bertha serving some customers and paid her for the food. The guards he¡¯d met at the gates were also in the inn for a few drinks. Percy thanked them for their help and handed Bertha a small pouch filled with coins to pay for their food and beverages. The guards were more than happy with such a reward and didn¡¯t hesitate to show their happiness. They jumped up, swaying left and right, clinked their mugs, and emptied their beer at once. The guards ordered another beer ¨C for Percy as well ¨C but Percy did not notice that anymore. He disappeared before Bertha saw how much trouble his generosity had caused. They will be fine, right? There shouldn¡¯t be an issue. The guards know when to stop¡­ I guess. He shrugged and paved his way to the Guildhall after buying bandages and a simple ointment for flesh wounds. Olivia and Tom were waiting for Percy when he arrived at last. Olivia nodded subtly as her eyes fell upon his bandages, but her expression gradually worsened when Percy told her and Tom what happened in the forest. The report stopped with the Gnoll¡¯s death. That was all they had to know. ¡°Did you rank up?¡± Tom asked, oddly excited. Olivia and Percy frowned at Tom, who could only smile wryly. ¡°You fought above your weight class. If your alignment toward combat ¨C maybe hunting or something along those lines ¨C is as high as I think it might be, you must have ranked up. Am I right¡­or am I right?¡± Percy studied Tom and was unable to tell what the receptionist was thinking. It was only a matter of time before someone would find that he could rank up rapidly. Telling others about his Ego was possible, but Percy read enough about Egos to know that some nobles didn¡¯t like commoners with powerful Egos. Precisely, they disliked Egos, who weren¡¯t affiliated with them. This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. Percy understood how powerful [Coin of Prosperity] was, and he did not want to tell anyone about it just yet. It wasn¡¯t that he didn¡¯t trust Olivia and others, but Percy didn¡¯t want to be treated differently, which was the case for Egos. Olivia made that quite obvious the day they met. ¡°Yes, I did rank up,¡± He nodded. But not because of the battle. I ranked up after consuming the Gnoll. Tom grinned, ¡°That¡¯s great!¡± Olivia continued frowning, ¡°Great?! Percy almost died!¡± ¡°What? I know he nearly died, but he is still alive and he will be stronger than ever once he is fully healed. We don¡¯t have many Adventurers with a high alignment toward anything combat-related in Raewood. Percy is a perfect addition,¡± He clasped in his hands, still grinning foolishly, ¡°I will add him to the next Adventurer training.¡± He turned to Percy, ¡°You want to train and grow stronger, right?¡± Tom¡¯s eyes glimmered. That wasn¡¯t a determining factor, but Percy nodded nonetheless. He might not love training and sparring with others, but Percy realized how dire professional training was. If he wanted to hunt in the wilderness and return every time, he had to train. Otherwise, the next Gnoll he met would tear him into shreds. ** His wounds took longer to heal than expected, but that was something Percy should have known. The Gnoll¡¯s claws had cut deep into his flesh, leaving several-centimeter-deep wounds behind. It was already a miracle he managed to reach Raewood alive. He didn¡¯t even catch an infection either. Gnolls weren¡¯t exactly known for being clean monsters. If anything, they spread disease faster than other monsters. Even Goblins were less likely to spread disease than Gnolls. The mana acquired from two rank-ups provided enough energy to push his body past its natural limit and block any infections. However, his wounds were still severe. If not for the emergency potion, which did the Goliath portion of healing, Percy would probably be crippled or on his deathbed. Maybe it was luck to be alive, but Percy didn¡¯t want to leave it at that. He joined the Adventurers¡¯ training two days after returning from his ¡®glorious¡¯ hunt. It was still early in the morning when he arrived at the training ground. It was a large area behind the Guildhall with several stations for workouts, sparring grounds, parkours, studying, and much more. Am I the last to arrive? Percy looked around the training ground and saw a familiar hulking giant and company. Dave was the first to see Percy and waved to him. Mike turned around as well, his expression hard to read. ¡°After your last stunt, I expected you to be too scared to leave the town. To think you would be the one to join our Adventurer training.¡± ¡°Good morning,¡± Percy greeted the duo and others, ¡°Receptionist Tom told me to join the Adventurer training.¡± A stocky man appeared beside Mike, ¡°Is that kid already about to advance? Isn¡¯t he the one who was nearly killed by a half-dead Gnoll?¡± Mike shrugged, ¡°He doesn¡¯t meet the other requirements to reach the Silver Rank.¡± ¡°I doubt he knows that the Adventurer training is for Silver Rank Adventurers in the first place,¡± He studied Percy, who responded with a confused look. Dave nudged Mike, who cursed quietly. ¡°The Adventurer training has to be completed if you want to advance to the Silver Rank. Once you complete the Adventurer training with a passing grade, you will receive the stamp of the Guildmaster and be able to advance. The higher your rank in the Guild, the more prestige you¡¯ll receive. You¡¯re gaining more access to knowledge, missions, and other benefits, but I don¡¯t think that¡¯s important to you right now. You¡¯re still far from reaching the requirements of a Silver Rank Adventurer.¡± The stocky man next to Mike grumbled, ¡°If the nearest Guildhall with the authority to advance Adventurers to the Silver Rank wasn¡¯t Yirash, I would leave this place to reach the Silver Rank and come back. Why is Lexter so adamant about this Adventurer training?!¡± ¡°The Adventurer training is something new. It was added to the requirements to advance to the Silver Rank not long ago. So, even though we¡¯re already Silver Rank, we have to undergo the Adventurer training again because Guildmaster Lexter told us he would revoke our rank if we didn¡¯t,¡± The man explained to Percy, who nodded thoughtfully. They don¡¯t seem to like this training, but they¡¯re not cursing the Guildmaster for adding the training to the requirements. Is that respect I sense? Percy was unsure, but one thing he could tell was that Mike and his stocky friend didn¡¯t like the training. Adventurer training seems useful. I wouldn¡¯t have been so close to death against the Gnoll if I had received proper training earlier. If all Adventurers undergo adequate training, fewer would die stupid deaths. Teaching all Iron and Bronze Rank Adventurers was probably not possible because of the shortage of experienced staff, but getting taught before advancing to a Silver Rank Adventurer was already good enough. At least, it indicated that all Silver Rank Adventurers reached a certain threshold¡ªthat they had been adequately taught in theory and practise. ¡°Silence!¡± A silent grumble reverberated through the training ground, silencing everyone. Percy shuddered involuntarily but spun around to watch the entrance of a middle-aged man. He wasn¡¯t particularly tall for a full-grown man with a height that couldn¡¯t exceed 1.7 meters. Most men in and around Raewood were above 1.8 meters tall. Nonetheless, nobody could compare to the pressure the short man exuded naturally. He was short, but his strides were long and graceful. Once he reached the Adventurers, he stared them dead in the eyes ¨C one after another ¨C and grunted as if displeased by what he saw. The only time he nodded was when he looked at Dave. At some point, he noticed Percy. He stared longer at him than others and sighed deeply. ¡°You¡¯re the new kid, right?¡± Percy nodded. ¡°Look. I really don¡¯t know why Tom was so adamant about adding you to this month¡¯s training regimen, but we¡¯re already in the middle of training. You are too weak to keep up with the others. Telling you to spar with them might help you, but it¡¯s useless for the others. I could spar with you and help you if I had the time, but I gotta make sure these other idiots are ready for the dangers of the wilderness.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have anything against you, but looking at you hurts my eyes,¡± He scratched his bald head. "You might have something in your head, but your body is a disaster. I can see the aftereffect from mana shaping, which is quite impressive because I don¡¯t think anyone taught you how to utilize mana to reshape your physique, but that doesn¡¯t make up for the lack of training your body has undergone.¡± ¡°Simply put, I don¡¯t have much time to spare for you. At most, I can give you a few minutes every day. You can ask me questions and spar with me during that time. Other than that, I will create a training plan for you to fix your body,¡± The Instructor said, still inspecting his body intently,, ¡°Once you¡¯re about to reach the requirements to advance to the Silver Rank, I can train you properly.¡± He shrugged lightly as he ended, ¡°Maybe you will be better off than others if you follow my training plan, but I won¡¯t promise you anything.¡± That was a little bit unexpected, but Percy responded with a nod. He didn¡¯t know the training was for Silver Rank Adventurers who had to be re-examined or soon-to-be Silver Rank Adventurers. That was fine, though. A proper training plan and a few minutes to ask questions and spar with a true expert were more than enough. ¡°Thank you for the opportunity,¡± He said, ¡°Thank you for the opportunity to train with everyone!¡± The man nodded, seemingly satisfied with Percy¡¯s response, ¡°Call me Instructor Merle.¡± He clasped loudly and turned to the rest. ¡°No more wasting time,¡± A chuckle escaped his lips, but Percy couldn¡¯t help but feel shivers run down his spine, ¡°Warm up first!¡± B1 Chapter 20 - Danger This man is a demon in human skin! Percy was dead on the ground. At least, he felt like dying. His clothes were drenched in sweat, and not part of his body was left unscathed. The Instructor beat him black and blue in the few minutes dedicated to their spar. At the end of the day, the Instructor chose to spar with him for their first one-on-one session to assess his power level. The bits of pride Percy had were crushed and ground to powder when the Instructor left him behind, heaving heavily and writhing in pain. Why did I think I could catch up with the others in a few weeks? Who was that stupid, confident fool? Ah¡­that was me. Why did I say that? He didn¡¯t even try hard to defeat me. It was child¡¯s play. Percy looked at the spars of the other Adventurers, trying to suppress the pain that spread through his entire body with every move, and sighed deeply. He didn¡¯t have to be a genius to tell everyone was stronger and more experienced. Still, Percy never thought the gap would be this large. But that was even more reason to get back to his feet. He didn¡¯t want to lose out to the rest. ¡°You don¡¯t have to compare yourself to others,¡± Mike said, wiping his face with a towel, ¡°I heard you gained access to mana not too long ago. You¡¯re still in your first growth phase and will be there for another year or two. We are different. Our growth is much slower because it has been years since we reached maturity. Maybe not Dave and some other special cases, but I¡¯m speaking about myself and the others.¡± He smiled, but Percy could see the sadness in his eyes, ¡°I gained access to mana at the age of eight. Under normal circumstances, that¡¯s good because your first growth phase will last longer when you gain access to mana before you turn ten. However, I didn¡¯t understand the importance of that when I was eight. How could I? I was merely a child who was suddenly thrown into the unknown. My parents forced me to train without explaining anything, and I started resenting them for taking away my joy. They separated me from my friends¡ª...¡± Mike shook his head and grumbled something Percy didn¡¯t understand. ¡°What I¡¯m trying to say is that you¡¯re already progressing quickly. Instructor Merle never praised anyone¡¯s mana control other than yours. Even Dave was hardly ever praised by that guy. So, don¡¯t take the beating to heart; take the Adventurer training lightly. You are not supposed to be here, either way,¡± Mike shrugged, ¡°Just go at it at your pace.¡± Is he trying to help me? To comfort me for getting beaten up? Percy thought Mike disliked him, but that might have been a misunderstanding. He¡¯s nicer than expected. But he doesn¡¯t understand me at all. Who cares that my pride has been crushed? What¡¯s the worth of pride if you are delusional enough to think you¡¯re strong? The truth won¡¯t change no matter what you imagine. I¡¯m weak. I know that. The Gnoll told me quite clearly, and Instructor Merle made sure I would remember his beating as well. He made sure I wouldn¡¯t do anything stupid again. Percy licked his lips, the corner of his lips curling upward as he pushed through the pain to get up. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Mike asked, watching Percy suffer. I don¡¯t want to be weak anymore! Percy grinned like a fool, ¡°I¡¯m going at my pace.¡± He was up and began following the exercises he had been instructed to complete once he was back on his feet. Instructor Merle had been busy correcting an Adventurer¡¯s flawed stance when he discovered Percy in the corner of his eyes. He lifted his head and observed the struggling youth. Percy failed several times with the first batch of exercises, but he never gave up. He jumped up from the ground as fast as his pained body allowed whenever he fell and tried again. Percy would have never considered himself as tenacious as a cockroach, but he hated failing. It was weird because he never saw that side of himself until a few days ago. However, gaining access to mana changed everything. Manifesting his Ego awakened something within him. It was almost like his Ego unsealed his true self. Instructor Merle nodded at what he saw. Half an hour passed quickly, leaving more than half of the day¡¯s training session, but the Adventurers weren¡¯t fated to continue with the torturous training regime. The thunderous ringing of the watchtower¡¯s bell resounded through the entire town. Instructor Merle froze for a quarter of a second but reacted quickly by lifting his hand. The training Adventurers stopped in their tracks and listened to the bells. Percy¡¯s chest heaved up and down heavily, and his lungs were desperately calling for oxygen, but his lips remained sealed to make as few sounds as possible. Three times. What was the meaning of three loud bell strokes again? The tension around Instructor Merle dispersed when the bell stopped ringing after three loud sounds, but that wasn¡¯t enough to calm Percy¡¯s nerves. ¡°Today¡¯s training session ends here. We will continue¡­later,¡± Instructor Merle said before he left the training ground with lithe strides. Once out of the training grounds, he kicked the ground hard and started running. The Adventurers turned to each other and started moving without exchanging a single word. They rushed behind the Instructor with hurried strides. I cannot run anymore. Well, I would be too slow either w¨C...SHIT!! Percy was ready to give up the idea of running behind when a massive hand reached out to him and hurled him into the air. Looking around in panic, Percy found the culprit right away. It was Dave. The hulking giant decided that Percy had to come with them. Dave picked Percy from the ground and charged behind the Adventurers while carrying the youth. It took a few seconds before Percy regained his composure. He suppressed a scream and instead chose to look at the town from his elevated position. Instructor Merle and the Adventurers reached the eastern town gates in no time, but Percy was among the first to see what was happening. He squinted his eyes and tried to see better, stimulating his mana. It coursed through his head and eyes, augmenting his sight slightly. Was that how I looked two days ago? No¡­they¡¯re worse off. Percy hadn''t seen many corpses yet, but the old man, Greg, was one of them. Still, the half-dead men entering Raewood¡¯s walls with the guards¡¯ help didn¡¯t look much better than the old man at that time. One of the two half-dead men was missing an arm and part of his shoulder while the other man¡¯s guts spilled out of a gaping wound. The men¡¯s eyes were bloodshot, their faces were deathly pale, and their steps were sluggish. This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report. At last, the man whose guts were spilling out of the massive abdominal wound couldn¡¯t move anymore. He winced weakly, and a tear trickled down his cheek upon realizing that he wouldn¡¯t make it. The man writhed in pain one last time before the strength in his body left him. His legs caved in, and his head slumped down. The guard holding the man was surprised and didn¡¯t manage to carry the man¡¯s weight on top of his weight ¨C on top of the heavy armor both wore. A groan escaped the guard¡¯s lips as the dead body slipped out of his fingers. The corpse landed on the ground with a loud thud. Silence was all that remained. Dozens of eyes drilled into the motionless body, the confusion and disbelief of the bystanders apparent. ¡°Wasn¡¯t that Hugo?¡± One of the Adventurers asked quietly into the silence. ¡°And over there is Pascal,¡± Mike looked at the man missing one arm, ¡°But where is the rest of their team?¡± They knew the answer, but nobody dared to say it aloud. That¡­was not how I expected my first day of Adventurer training to end¡­ Percy swallowed hard. He knew little about Hugo or Pascal but heard the mumbling Adventurers. Their team consisted of several Bronze rank Adventurers and three Silver rank Adventurers. However, even the Bronze Rank Adventurers were said to move up to the Silver Rank after the next assessment. What in the seven hells is going on here? Nobody knew an answer except Pascal, who collapsed after his eyes fell upon a young woman. Tears trickled down her cheeks as she charged through the masses of Adventurers. She wore a white tunic and wielded a wooden staff engraved with silver lines. Percy watched the staff for a moment when a charge of mana burst through the grayish wood. The silver lines glowed dimly and released glowing mist. Percy wanted to stay and observe what was happening ¨C even more so when a metallic glimmering Card with bronze tint manifested in the woman¡¯s hand ¨C but Dave retreated. The Adventurers were told to make space for the healers and others. The Card in the crying woman¡¯s hands dispersed into mots of light, which transformed into a¡­sheep. It bleaked and rubbed its head on Pascal¡¯s severed arm stump, which slowed the bleeding considerably, but the veins still pulsed in a sickly purple glow. Pristine light filled the area around Pascal, whose expression eased up. That¡¯s a real healer with a proper Healing-type Monster Card! Raewood had something like that? That¡­ Pascal regained his consciousness for a moment. His eyes shot open, and he grasped the crying healer¡¯s shoulder with an iron grip. She winced in pain, but Pascal didn¡¯t seem to notice. ¡°The others¡­danger¡­¡± He could barely utter in a whisper before he collapsed again. ** The rest of the day and the following day passed in chaos, for the lack of a better word. Percy was unsure what happened because he and the Adventurers were told to leave Pascal¡¯s well-being to the healer and the medics. The Adventurers were reluctant to leave the scene but accepted that going rather than obstructing the healer was better. Percy learned from Mike that the healer was Pascal¡¯s wife. Apparently, they married before moving to Raewood. Nobody asked why they had moved to a small town in the middle of nowhere. Many Adventurers had a reason to move to Raewood. Some were only here for vacation and to make some money, while others were born in one of the surrounding villages, hoping to make it big in Raewood before moving onward. Not many Silver Rank Adventurers would remain in Raewood for long, yet Pascal, his group, and his Healer-Wife were exceptions. They¡¯ve been in Raewood for a while now. Other than the Guildmaster and some unique exceptions, Pascal and his comrades-in-arms were the most knowledgeable about the dangers of the surrounding regions¡­or had been. The situation was unclear, and so was the danger level outside Raewood. Nobody had a clear picture of what happened to Pascal and his comrades. Still, it was inevitable that whatever, or whoever killed Pascal¡¯s comrades, was strong enough to deal with several Silver rank Adventurers with years of experience and seamless teamwork. Something had to happen. Instructor Merle and a group of seasoned Adventurers left Raewood to search for Pascal¡¯s group. It was likely that they were all dead, but they had to be sure. Also, the Guild had to find out how severe the danger Pascal had mentioned was. They had to find out what endangered their livelihood to start with countermeasures. Unable to do anything to help, Percy focused on his training. He didn¡¯t stop the daily exercises until he finished the batches of tasks Instructor Merle gave to him. But his training didn¡¯t stop there. Tom and other staff members chose to supervise the Adventurer training after the Instructor¡¯s departure. Contrary to the Instructor¡¯s center point, their focus was theoretical knowledge. The Adventurer training was both for practical experience and improvements as well as theoretical knowledge. It was harder to train the stubborn Adventurers without the Instructor¡¯s iron first. However, Percy absorbed knowledge like a sponge, like his body absorbed mana and nutrients to improve his physique. ¡°It might be common knowledge to most, but I often hear Adventurers misunderstanding this point,¡± Olivia¡¯s voice traveled across the training ground. The Adventurers barely listened, yet Olivia didn¡¯t care. She smiled warmly at Percy, who listened intently, ¡°Your Tier doesn¡¯t determine how strong you are. It determines how much mana the body ¨C your vessel ¨C can hold at a time. Mana is known for strengthening the body and mind subconsciously, but that doesn¡¯t mean the effectiveness with which it strengthens your body and mind is the same. The quality of your mana and the precision with which you control mana are two of many determining factors.¡± She cleared her throat, glanced across the tables of soon-to-be Silver rank Adventurers, and sighed. It was obvious that their minds were with Pascal and the dangers outside Raewood. Still, if they listened intently, Olivia wouldn¡¯t have waste so much time repeating the same lectures. They should already know everything she taught. The Guild members would be acknowledged as Silver ranks and be allowed to leave the town in groups to research their comrades¡¯ deaths. Unfortunately, the Adventurers didn¡¯t seem to think that far. But maybe that was for the best. Olivia shuddered and returned to focus on the last bit of today¡¯s lecture. ¡°If you manage to increase the quality of your mana and train your mana control, you can use your mana to augment body parts and transform your body into a living weapon. That way, if necessary, you can survive without Artifacts, Monster Cards, and the like. At the same time, your control of Artifacts and Monster Cards will improve with higher mana control, which can be a deciding factor between life and death.¡± It was well-known that high mana control was needed for Gifted Ones to unleash their full potential. The Guild members had been taught that long ago and decided it wasn¡¯t worth listening to the special lecture anymore. Olivia disagreed wholeheartedly, but she couldn¡¯t force anyone to keep listening. The lecture ended earlier than scheduled, and the Adventurers dispersed. Only Percy stayed behind. ¡°I like your lessons,¡± He smiled at Olivia, who could only sigh. ¡°Thank you, but the others aren¡¯t wrong. I¡¯m trying to teach them things they¡¯ve already learned when they were young. They¡¯ve been refining their mana control for a decade or longer already. Most of them are already at their limit. They might make it as Silver rank Adventurers, which unlocks a few new doors, but it¡¯s too late already. I don¡¯t think they will reach the Gold Rank in their lifetime¡­ Well, no. Maybe two will make it.¡± Olivia studied Percy and smiled, ¡°Your mana is pure, and your control is already fairly high. You seem to have more alignments than most Adventurers, as well. That¡¯s why Tom was adamant about putting you into the Adventurer training. He¡¯s been betting on your advancement and some other things.¡± ¡°But the times are changing. I don¡¯t know what¡¯s going to happen. The dangers outside the wilderness are unknown. Pascal didn¡¯t make it, and since Merle and his group haven¡¯t retur¡ª....¡± Olivia shut her mouth the instant she realized she¡¯d messed up. Percy pressed his lips together and studied the receptionist, ¡°The Instructor didn¡¯t report back?¡± Olivia paled but nodded reluctantly after realizing the situation couldn¡¯t be salvaged anymore. ¡°Merle and his people were supposed to report back a few hours ago, but they didn¡¯t. That didn''t sound good. It sounded terrible. B1 Chapter 21 - Freedom? Pascal died before telling the Guild what attacked them, and the Instructor never returned to Raewood. That was terrible news. The Guildmaster and staff tried hiding the truth for a while but quickly realized that the townspeople waited impatiently to hear about the Instructor¡¯s return. When the Instructor didn¡¯t return, the news spread like wildfire and the atmosphere all over the town changed. The mayor decreed a higher danger level, recommending everyone stay in town. He didn¡¯t forbid the traveling merchants and Lumberjacks to leave, but he made sure they knew the unknown danger. It was challenging to control the townspeople, but the mayor and the Guildmaster were Gold rank Adventurers. They would be safe and sound if they followed the Mayor¡¯s orders. At least, that was what everyone was hoping for. It was the only thing they could grasp desperately. They relied on the Guildmaster and the Mayor¡¯s protection. Even the Adventurers were recommended to stay in Raewood until the source of danger was discovered. According to the kingdom¡¯s constitution, all Adventurers would be hired by the crown to fortify its subjects in times of war and danger. Their expenses would be covered and generously compensated in the worst case ¨C if they had to engage in combat to protect the town. ¡°I¡¯m bored,¡± One of the Bronze Adventurers cursed loudly. He and his companions could be found drinking beer and hard liquor in the Angel¡¯s Brew Inn every day for the last few days. They were busy filling Bertha¡¯s pouch, ¡°How much longer do we have to stay here?¡± ¡°Nobody is forcing you to stay here. You¡¯re allowed to leave. Tell the Guildmaster you¡¯ll search the source of danger, and he will certainly permit you to leave. Knowing him, Guildmaster Lexter would probably praise you to the stars and beyond before watching you jump into your death out there.¡± One of the Adventurers shuddered. ¡°You know how impatient Guildmaster Lexter is. If he wasn¡¯t bound to stay in Raewood in such a situation, he¡¯d be the first to search for whatever killed Pascal and his pals.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t forget Instructor Merle.¡± A slap echoed through the Angel¡¯s Brew Inn dining room, and chaos ensued. Percy wasn¡¯t sure what was happening, but staying away from the dining room for the night was probably the best. He returned to his room, wondering about Raewood¡¯s future. I haven¡¯t been out to hunt for a while now. Well, nobody was out there. But maybe that¡¯s for everyone¡¯s best¡ªreinforcement has been requested, and all we have to do is stay here and protect the town. Patience is all it takes. It was a little scary that almost ten Silver Adventurers were either killed or vanished in the last few days. Something like that never happened in Raewood. Percy couldn¡¯t find similar incidents in the history books about Raewood and the surrounding region either. The entire area was supposed to be a secure place for groups of Silver rank Adventurers. A sole Silver rank Adventurer might die a stupid death. Something like that can happen. But what is strong enough to kill a group of vigilant Adventurers? Everyone said Pascal and his party were well-equipped and more vigilant than most parties. What happened to them? Percy did everything possible to grow stronger in the last few days and was bound to do the same in the next few days. Training was all he could do to divert his mind from the looming danger. He studied his Ego more extensively and did the same with mana. However, comprehending the essence of mana and his Ego was easier said than done. He tried augmenting his body parts just like he did with his eyes before, but consciously enhancing his body with mana was different from willing his mana to do something instinctively. It was not more difficult, not directly, at least. It was just¡­different. Percy didn¡¯t waste his freetime idling around. He studied to fill the massive gaps in his knowledge, worked out to unleash the full potential of his body, and trained his mind to study his Ego and mana. His mana control increased slowly but steadily, yet Percy found himself in tricky situations whenever he wanted to test something. Testing was what he called the sparring sessions with the bored Adventurers. It might be better to call it a one-sided beating, but Percy liked the term ¡®testing¡¯ much better. The Adventurers beat the living shit out of Percy after reluctantly agreeing to spar with him. At first, they thought sparring with a rookie would be interesting, but everything changed once the spar crossed a certain point. The pressure weighing down on the Adventurers was heavy, and they crossed the line. They lost their composure. Percy was beaten into a pulp until the Adventurers had de-stressed. He didn¡¯t like the pain and would much rather avoid getting beaten up, but the sparring sessions with the Adventurers helped Percy improve in several regards. First, Percy¡¯s understanding of his natural regeneration and mana¡¯s influence skyrocketed. He studied the mana-aided healing process and learned how to control the process. It was challenging and not something he could do naturally, but Percy was learning. Slightly accelerating his natural healing process decreased the mana consumption drastically. It would take longer to heal his wounds, but Percy managed to use his mana to augment his body while simultaneously accelerating his sore muscles'' healing process. That was great, just like the rapid acceleration that Percy learned to use after being beaten black and blue for the first time. It drained his mana reserves rapidly, but his bruises and two rib cracks healed rapidly. The effect of rapid healing wasn¡¯t instantaneous. It wasn¡¯t even close to that, but Percy was satisfied with his mana control and increased understanding of mana. His increasing understanding of mana also helped Percy learn how to replenish his mana reserves. He had to learn how to sense and absorb the surrounding mana actively. Why was that so important? The answer was so obvious it was difficult to grasp. Mana invigorated the body, but it could also temporarily strengthen his body and mind. However, most importantly, mana could be used to wield Artifacts and Monster Cards longer. According to the legends in one of the books Olivia told him to read, some of the strongest Cardists ¨C Gifted Ones wielding Monster Cards ¨C could replenish their mana mid-battle. Of course, those were just legends written in a book, and even Olivia said it would be near impossible for anyone to reach such a high level of comprehension, but that was precisely what unleashed Percy¡¯s drive to succeed. Stolen novel; please report. He chose to forsake sleep to keep on training. Even if he couldn¡¯t get it right at first, Percy was certain that diligence and the drive to grow stronger and improve wouldn¡¯t fail him. ** A week of gloomy silence passed without any news. It was nerve-wracking and drove the traveling merchants to the brink of insanity. They had important deals to fulfill and decided that the wilderness wasn¡¯t as dangerous as the Guildmaster and Mayor said. The traveling merchants still hired a few Adventurers ¨C forcing them to reach deep into their coin pouches ¨C and left. Following the departure of the first group, more Adventurers decided to test the waters. Everyone hoped the last week had been a nightmare, and everything would return to normal. A part of the forest was vigilantly searched through nonetheless. However, nothing was found. There weren¡¯t any corpses and no armaments. The Adventurers didn¡¯t even find a single strand of hair. It was almost like Instructor Merle, his comrades, and the rest of Pascal¡¯s team dispersed into thin air. For a while, Percy thought everyone would die. He expected none of the Adventurers leaving Raewood to return. Percy wasn¡¯t an Oracle. He would never be one. However, an odd feeling crept up the back of his head when the first Adventurers left with the traveling merchants. The feeling didn¡¯t subside and kept him occupied even after the first groups of Adventurers returned. However, the Adventurers didn¡¯t return unscathed. Almost everyone was injured, but only lightly. It was still early in the morning ¨C the Adventurers left Raewood less than two hours ¨C when news reached them. Another problem, a well-known issue, resurfaced. ¡°The Berserk Rabbits swamped the forest,¡± Olivia told Percy when he asked what was happening. ¡°The Berserk Rabbits did that?¡± He looked at two Silver-ranked Adventurers and studied their wounds in surprise. Of course, they weren¡¯t seriously injured, but Percy couldn¡¯t imagine Berserk Rabbits harming a Silver rank Adventurer. ¡°That¡¯s what happens when you charge into a field of hundreds of Berserk Rabbits,¡± Olivia sighed deeply, ¡°They probably thought it would be easy to deal with the Berserk Rabbits, but there is a major difference in hunting Berserk Rabbits in their den, where the narrow paths restrain their movements, or in the open where dozens can attack from all directions at a time.¡± She shrugged and smiled at Percy, ¡°But nobody died. The Adventurers only encountered Berserk Rabbits, which is also why the Mayor had to lower the security level again.¡± ¡°Do you think it¡¯s safe to hunt again?¡± ¡°Safe? The wilderness? I don¡¯t think the wilderness was ever safe,¡± Receptionist Tom grunted from the side. That¡¯s a good point. ¡°We won¡¯t force any Adventurer to hunt so soon after¡­ However, the Berserk Rabbit plague is something we have to solve soon. They eat everything and will come for Raewood when they¡¯re done with the forest,¡± Olivia retrieved a small parchment from underneath the wooden counter, ¡°That¡¯s why the Guild released a special mission. You can get one copper coin for every Berserk Rabbit you¡¯ve killed, on top of the other mission rewards.¡± The nagging feeling in the back of his head still bothered Percy, but he couldn¡¯t remain in Raewood¡¯s safety forever. He didn¡¯t want to rely on others to stay alive. Not anymore. ¡°Good.¡± Before he could change his opinion, Percy picked a few missions, all related to hunting Berserk Rabbits, and registered them. He left the Guildhall with fast strides, entered the nearest merchant shop, and purchased a few more leather bags. Ready to hunt, Percy left Raewood. His chest tightened when he walked out of the town, but he calmed quickly. The forest¡¯s appearance didn¡¯t change. Everything looked the same. Percy skidded left and right to test something, his lips curling upward in satisfaction. I¡¯ve gotten used to my body. But how much stronger am I now? The Adventurers beat me easily¡­but what about a Berserk Rabbit or a Hill Hog? A Hill Hog would be a nice encounter to test his progress, but Berserk Rabbits would also do. Percy switched into a defensive combat stance and augmented his hearing sense. He used only a little mana, but it was enough to push his hearing to another level. Percy considered perceiving the surrounding mana actively to refill his reserves, but faintly rusting bushes attracted his attention. He grasped the iron dagger tightly and prepared for battle. Unsurprisingly, a Berserk Rabbit pack of more than a dozen members dashed out of the bushes. Percy was prepared and augmented his eyes and legs simultaneously. Augmenting multiple parts of his body simultaneously wasn¡¯t easy. It forced Percy to split his mana into several streams and circulate them cleanly through his eyes. Fortunately, his will and desires stirred his mana, removing the complexity of doing so. He scanned the battlefield and kicked the ground once all enemies were exactly where he wanted them to be. One monster charged from the side and pounced at Percy when he dashed forward. Percy didn¡¯t look at the Berserk Rabbit directly, but his dagger whisked to the side without warning, penetrating the monster¡¯s skull in one go. Foolish beast. He used his superior speed and weight against the Berserk Rabbits, kicking one Berserk Rabbit into the group behind it before slashing another Berserk Rabbit¡¯s neck. He beheaded another Berserk Rabbit a moment later, using his accumulated momentum to spin around. His other hand shot forward like the lung of a ferocious viper. His fingers coiled around a Berserk Rabbit¡¯s neck. Percy didn¡¯t even eye the creature. Sensing its thirst for his blood was enough for him to act mercilessly. Percy¡¯s grasp around the monster¡¯s neck tightened and broke it with a resounding snap. The youthful Adventurer didn¡¯t even realize how ferociously he fought. His mind was focused on the battle, yet he didn¡¯t seem to understand how much his fighting style had changed. Percy¡¯s attacks were deadlier, and his actions were far more ruthless than they used to be. The youth who¡¯d been afraid to leave the town mere minutes ago didn¡¯t seem to exist anymore. He only returned when the last Berserk Rabbit dropped dead to the ground, a blade stuck in its chest. That was¡­something. Am I losing myself in combat? Not really. I¡¯m just not as scared as I used to be. My attacks are more precise, and I¡¯m more confident to deal with the Berserk Rabbits. Percy couldn¡¯t be certain where the confidence came from. He¡¯d been beaten black and blue by the Adventurers for the last week, and it hadn''t been long since a half-dead Gnoll nearly killed him. I¡¯ve grown stronger. I know I¡¯m stronger than I used to be and can take a good beating as well. Even if I lose a fight, as long as I survive, I will get back up and grow stronger! Maybe¡­I¡¯m just not afraid of failing anymore. He was unsure what it was, but Percy loved how he felt. Regaining freedom was exhilarating, and hunting felt fulfilling. It was almost like he retrieved what he¡¯d lost after being stuck in Raewood for an entire week, unable to do anything. Percy didn¡¯t feel helpless anymore. He grinned foolishly and collected the bunnies. They were stuffed into a leather bag, and his hunt continued. B1 Chapter 22 - Unknown Should I [Consume] the bunnies and continue hunting until I¡¯m tired, or do I need more money? The Prosperity earned through [Consume] is too low. The Guild¡¯s additional rewards, in addition to the guild missions, should earn a fair bit. I can always use [Consume] after earning a fair buck. Percy looked down on his body and winced. After fighting a few more Berserk Rabbit packs, Percy¡¯s clothes were torn in multiple spots. Several spots were drenched in blood ¨C not his ¨C and it was only a matter of days before he would have to throw this set of clothes away as well. Percy might have saved some money, but it was still not enough to purchase the leather armor he¡¯d been looking for. ¡°Money it is then,¡± He murmured, stuffing the last bunnies into his overflowing leather bags before returning to Raewood. His trip to the town didn¡¯t take long. He met some Adventurers, who noticed him with a curt nod. Percy nodded back and hurried to the Guildhall, where he found Olivia. ¡°I killed 51 Berserk Rabbits,¡± Percy announced, retrieving his Bronze Guild Emblem and the hunting spoils. Since he¡¯d registered a culling mission for 50, 100, and 200 Berserk Rabbits, processing his mission was simple. Olivia counted the spoils and nodded in satisfaction. She updated his Bronze Guild Emblem and retrieved some coins. ¡°That¡¯s one silver and 31 copper coins. Here you go,¡± Olivia slid the money across the wooden counter and watched Percy break into a vibrant smile. ¡°If I may say something,¡± She said suddenly, only to wait for a second as Percy pocketed his money, ¡°I¡¯d recommend you to stay near the outskirts of the forest, as close as possible to Raewood, if you¡¯re planning to continue hunting today and tomorrow. We never know when something¡­happens again¡­¡± There are so many Berserk Rabbits near the outskirts. I don¡¯t think anyone can hunt that many in a day or two. There shouldn¡¯t be an issue with that. ¡°I¡¯m not going to rush too deep into the forest yet,¡± Percy nodded with a smile and turned around. He left the Guildhall, only to hear Olivia mumble behind him, ¡°Yet, is not exactly what I wanted to hear.¡± More hunting! Returning to the wilderness after a forced break lasting more than a week was a fantastic experience. He¡¯d gained more combat experience, his mana mastery had increased, and his Tier was two ranks higher than the last time he¡¯d been out hunting. It came as no surprise how excited he was after hunting a few Berserk Rabbits. However, he wanted more. Percy sincerely hoped to encounter another Hill Hog. But before he left Raewood again, Percy visited Butcher Kevin with the Berserk Rabbit corpses. Interestingly enough, the butcher wasn¡¯t alone in his shop. Three unknown faces worked diligently behind the butcher¡¯s counter. Less surprisingly, they dissected Berserk Rabbits. I thought he was a loner. To think he would share his counter with other butchers. Percy greeted Butcher Kevin, but neither had any time to spare. Kevin was busy and knew Percy had come to him with more work. While more work was appreciated, Butcher Kevin couldn¡¯t help but abhor Percy¡¯s timing. They exchanged a few sentences before Percy left with emptied leather bags. He rushed back to the wilderness with hurried strides and jumped into action, ignoring the sensation in the back of his head. Calm down. Nobody encountered any monsters other than the Berserk Rabbits. They scared everyone away with their numbers. I will be fine. Percy didn¡¯t endure it any longer in the town¡¯s safety. He didn¡¯t dislike the town as much as before. The old man¡¯s prejudice against Raewood no longer existed in his mind. If anything, Percy took a liking to Raewood. That was why he couldn¡¯t stay in the town while the other Adventurers were hunting with their lives on the line. Maybe others wouldn¡¯t mind. It was likely they wouldn¡¯t care about him in the first place. However, Percy didn¡¯t want his reason to hide in Raewood to be the threats in the wild ¨C the unknown threat who¡¯s eliminated several experienced Adventurers. He loathed himself for thinking it would be alright to stay hidden in Raewood and do nothing about the Berserk Rabbit plague. He would hate himself until the day he died if the reason he didn¡¯t dare to venture outside town was¡­ because he was too afraid to die in the wilderness where nobody protected him. No, Percy could protect himself. Hunting is exciting, and so is growing stronger. Of course, pain is shit, but it¡¯s not like I¡¯m losing an arm every time I leave Raewood. Even if something happens, I will make it out alive and return stronger! He grasped his iron dagger tightly and resumed the rabbit hunt. The plague had to be solved, and a fortune had to be earned. After all, he had to grow even stronger! Percy¡¯s hunt continued seamlessly. The number of packs around the area decreased, and he barely managed to kill one pack with too many Adventurers roaming around to earn a small fortune, just like he wanted to. The decreasing number of Berserk Rabbits near Raewood was great for the town but annoying for the Adventurers, who were forced to venture deeper into the forest or around. Percy considered entering the forest with some Adventurers but decided against it. He promised Olivia to be careful, so he ended up being one of the few Adventurers who made a detour around the forest. That came in handy because Percy discovered several groups of Berserk Rabbits in an hour. They died quickly at his hand, filling his bags to the brim once again. Since I¡¯m a bit further away, it shouldn¡¯t be an issue to use [Consume]. Running back and forth for an hour wastes too much precious time. Maybe the Berserk Rabbits won¡¯t be here by the time I retu¨C... What is that? Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation. Percy¡¯s attention lingered on a few Berserk Rabbits. Their interface, to be precise. [Berserk Rabbit ¨C Mature/Corrupted ¨C 14 Prosperity.] The Berserk Rabbits with different interfaces had a few things in common. A new tag appeared next to their growth cycle, [Consume], which would reward Percy with a lot more Prosperity, and they smelled awful. It hadn¡¯t been five minutes since he killed the corrupted Berserk Rabbits before their carcasses started smelling really bad. What is going on here? Their combat prowess wasn¡¯t different, but I could gain more Prosperity. They also stink¡­terrible. That shouldn¡¯t be a monster evolution. Evolving monsters should be stronger than the norm. Percy contemplated what to do with the corrupted corpses. The easiest solution was to use [Consume] on the bodies and have them disappear. However, that didn¡¯t sit right with Percy. He shook his head. Rustling bushes and creaking trees forced Percy to empty his mind. He dived to the ground and crawled to a nearby trunk, unsure what was happening. But the combination of loudly creaking trees and corrupt Berserk Rabbits didn¡¯t sit well together. Percy¡¯s heart beat wildly, but he didn¡¯t make a move. A single wrong move could decide between life and death. The commotion continued and intensified. It wasn¡¯t long until a nearby tree cracked and split apart. Percy had to suppress his urge to jump up and run for his life. That would pull more attention in his direction, and attention was certainly the last thing Percy wanted right now. A terrifying roar reverberated through the surroundings, but something was off. Pain? That isn¡¯t the roar of a monster filled with vigor, confidence, and raw power. It¡¯s a desperate scream filled with pain. The commotion intensified, and more roars resounded. It continued for several minutes, which Percy used to change his position. He didn¡¯t make any big moves but crawled over the ground, searching for a thicker tree trunk to hide behind. I am too far from Raewood to reach the guards. Whatever is out there will tear me into shreds long before I warn anyone. Percy recalled his fight with the Gnoll and the death of the Silver-ranked Adventurers, and he shuddered. Maybe he was growing stronger quickly, but that didn¡¯t mean anything. He was still not truly powerful. Not powerful enough just yet, at least. The commotion continued, and Percy listened intently. He infused his ears with mana to listen carefully, but there wasn¡¯t much to listen to. A snort? No, it is a laugh. Someone is laughing? Percy wanted to remain hidden in the bushes near the large tree, but his drive to understand what he was dealing with overshadowed his fear. Even if it was merely a quarter of a second, Percy moved slowly until he could see around the tree trunk. He pushed the bushes aside, not longer than a moment, and unraveled a devastating scene before his eyes. The first thing he saw were several greenish-brown-skinned humanoids. They weren¡¯t human or part of any officially registered intelligent races. However, Percy recalled them. They were three-meter tall, and their bodies were more muscles than anything else. Their bodies were riddled with old scars, but that didn¡¯t matter anymore. The marks that had been a clear indicator of their achievements were useless now that they were dead. What are Orcs doing here, and how is this¡­thing¡­dealing with them? Orcs were already dangerous foes. Their physical strength was extraordinary. It mixed well into their physique and weapon mastery of heavy weapons. Fighting an elderly Orc was difficult for Silver-rank Adventurers as well. Yet, a lone hunter had torn those fearsome Orcs into countless pieces. The lone hunter was humanoid as well. However, it didn¡¯t look anything like the monsters and humanoids Percy had seen in his books. No, that¡¯s not true. He broke into a cold sweat studying the lone hunter. It couldn¡¯t have been taller than Percy and had an even more fragile physique. To Percy, the lone hunter looked malnourished. How can anyone with such a frail body be so¡­strong?! Percy shuddered. The lone hunter¡¯s purple skin was coated in shimmering black oil. He didn¡¯t know where the oil came from but saw darkness oozing from its claws. It laughed ¨C a grotesque sound etched deep into Percy¡¯s mind ¨C while tearing the Orcs¡¯ corpses into tiny pieces. The lone hunter wasn¡¯t even trying to feast on the bodies. It was playing with them! As the lone hunter turned around, Percy stopped breathing. It didn¡¯t notice him or maybe didn¡¯t care about his existence. All the creature seemed to care about were the Orc corpses. However, as the bodies didn¡¯t return from the dead, the lone hunter cursed aloud. Percy didn¡¯t know the creature''s language, but he could tell its anger. It kicked one of the orcs¡¯ heads, shattering it at once. The skull fragments and brain matter spurted in all directions, but the lone hunter didn¡¯t pay any further attention to that. It roared aloud and only stopped when it smelled something in the air. It sniffed and laughed again. It dashed deeper into the forest a moment later, leaving a trail of pained screams and desperation. It ignored the corpses after playing with them¡­ He stared blankly at the carnage before him. Not a single orc body was left intact. Either their limbs were twisted or ripped out of their bodies, or they missed a leg. Some orcs had been ripped in two halves as well. Percy imagined how strong the humanoid monster must have been in using raw power to rip an orc into two halves. He shuddered and swallowed even harder when his eyes traveled to the spilled intestines, the hearts that had been carved out of their chests, and their shattered skulls. I should leave before this¡­thing returns. For a quarter of a second, Percy was overwhelmed by greed. Dashing to the corpses and staying around them for a while should be enough to claim possession of them. Using [Consume] to swallow the orcs and turn them into Prosperity would be enough to grow much stronger in no time. However, a single screech from the humanoid creature ¨C its grotesque laugh ¨C was enough to discard that thought. His life was still more important than some Prosperity. He took a deep breath and moved slowly. It wasn¡¯t until Percy could be certain that the humanoid creature was running away from the carnage field that Percy jumped into action. First, he walked slowly, making as little noise as possible. However, when the creature¡¯s sound echoed through the forest from even further away, Percy started running. He didn¡¯t hesitate to augment his legs with mana and return to Raewood. Percy broke into a sweat, realizing only how far he¡¯d gone on his way back. It took much longer than expected to return to the town. He reached the guards and ushered a warning before charging straight to the Guildhall. Inside the Guild, he came to a halt. His chest heaved up and down heavily. ¡°You¡¯re back already? How many Berserk Rabbits did you sl¨C...¡± Percy didn¡¯t allow Olivia to finish her question. He shot to the counter, taking the receptionists by surprise. But his next words shocked them even more. ¡°I found a Demon in the woods!¡± B1 Chapter 23 - Demon ¡°I¡¯m certain! There is a Demon in the forest!¡± Percy repeated with even more certainty. He retrieved the corpses of the corrupted Berserk Rabbits and pointed at them. The Adventurers standing around the wooden counter heard Percy and frowned deeply. They didn¡¯t believe the rookie¡¯s words, but their disbelief didn¡¯t block their smelling sense. The receptionists and Adventurers standing around Percy smelled a waft of the rotten, acidic smell coming from the corrupted Berserk Rabbits. ¡°There has never been a Demon in or anywhere near Raewood!¡± Tom responded, agitated, ¡°You must be mistaken!¡± Why don¡¯t they believe me? Percy cursed but gestured for everyone to wait a second before dashing to the library on the second floor. A faint commotion rang out from the second floor until Percy returned holding a thick book. It was one of the books he¡¯d read when the town was in isolation. The thick wood creaked loudly as the book smashed onto the counter beside the Berserk Rabbits. Percy ignored the creaking, opened the book, and turned the pages quickly. He nibbled impatiently on his lower lip while mumbling the lone hunter¡¯s description as if he was afraid to forget something important. ¡°Oily, purplish skin¡­long claws, darkness oozing from its claws and the black oil, and a frail-looking ¨C almost malnourished ¨C body with abnormal strength¡­¡± It took a while, but Percy found what he was looking for. He stopped on the page and tapped the creature¡¯s image several times. ¡°I saw this one!¡± Percy declared, turning the book around for the receptionists to see. ¡°Archyeas, a Lesser Demon with humanoid built. Stretchy, violet hide, razor-sharp claws, and leathery wings¡­ Be aware of its bloodlust, demonic powers, and drive to kill.¡± Olivia mumbled, her voice weakening as she turned pale with the last few words. Percy pressed his lips together and studied Olivia intently. Her attention drifted to the Berserk Rabbits when she read the part talking about the Archyeas¡¯ demonic powers. ¡°Just like any other Demon, the Archyeas¡¯ body contains demonic power, which it can control freely. However, due to its evolution process, demonic power oozes from the tips of its claws. Pay attention to the claws. Once scratched, corruption will spread through your body. Ordinary Healers cannot heal a Demon¡¯s corruption. Seek a Priest to survive,¡± Olivia said while scanning the Berserk Rabbit. She looked at Tom, who¡¯d paled when he saw the silverish veins underneath the Berserk Rabbit¡¯s fur. ¡°That¡¯s why Pascal didn¡¯t get better.¡± He murmured, goosebumps spreading all over his body. Olivia took a deep breath to calm her nerves, ¡°We need to confirm this.¡± She retrieved a small semi-translucent crystal with a bluish tint in its center and channeled mana into it. The crystal glowed faintly, but nothing else happened. It was not until Merchant Erdwin barged into the Guildhall several minutes later. His head flicked to the wooden counter where more Adventurers had gathered around Percy and the receptionists. ¡°How may I be of the Guild¡¯s service?¡± They called Erdwin. Why? Percy looked between the crystal in Olivia¡¯s hands and the familiar merchant. He had many questions but didn¡¯t say a word. Instead, Percy studied the merchant quietly. ¡°The bodies are worthless,¡± Erdwin said when he arrived before the Berserk Rabbits. Nobody had to tell him what he was supposed to do. It was obvious. ¡°To think I will see something like this in a backwater town in the middle of nowhere,¡± He chuckled, ¡°Corruption as truly evi¨C...¡± His expression changed the moment the words left his lips. The smile on his lips was replaced with a dead-serious scowl. ¡°Corruption? But there are no Rifts nearby¡­¡± Tom caught that and nodded vigorously, the color in his face slowly returning, ¡°That¡¯s exactly what I thought. It must be a mutated monster, an Undead, or something like that! ¡°No. That¡¯s nonsense,¡± Erdwin said, retrieving gloves from somewhere. Percy didn¡¯t even notice where they came from. They were there all of a sudden. Merchant Erdwin touched the Berserk Rabbits¡¯ corpses and looked at a few things. Percy had no idea what he was looking for, but the merchant nodded grimly. ¡°That is the corruption of a demonic essence.¡± Tom paled again, his eyes flicking to Percy. ¡°Fuck.¡± I didn¡¯t want to be right about this either. Don¡¯t look at me like that! A Demon appeared near Raewood. The killer of the Silver-ranked Adventurers had been discovered! ** Good and bad news came with the discovery of the Archyeas. Percy had only seen one Archyeas, and it was highly likely that it would have attacked Raewood if there had been more than one. They were brutal creatures who lusted for blood and battle. Raewood was left untouched because the Mayor and Guildmaster were too strong to deal with alone. The bad news, however, was that there was a Demon in the first place. There shouldn¡¯t be a Demon anywhere near Raewood or the entire region in the first place. That was horrifying. Still, the good news outweighed the bad news. It was possible to defeat a single Lesser Demon with the necessary preparations. At least, that was what Olivia tried to tell everyone. They had much better chances at locating and defeating Lesser Demon now that they knew what they had to deal with. ¡°We can remove the threat once we acquire some Artifacts with the necessary enchantments,¡± Olivia assured Percy, who merely nodded. I don¡¯t know about Artifacts, but I¡¯m sure the Guildmaster will do something. He looked angry. Percy never talked to Guildmaster Lexter, but he saw him once. A few hours ago, he saw a youthful man with a tomato-red face charge into the Guildhall. He didn¡¯t look unique with short blond hair and dark green eyes, but everyone greeted him respectfully. The man talked to Olivia briefly before storming out of the Guildhall again. Percy found out the man was Guildmaster Lexter after that. The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. It had only been a few hours since Percy found the Archyeas when the demon hunt began. Even the Guildmaster joined the demon hunt, which wasn¡¯t further surprising. The Guildmaster was in fury when he heard what had killed his Adventurers. The Guildmaster and his troupe returned late that night with bad news, to the citizens¡¯ dismay. They didn¡¯t find the Archyeas. Percy didn¡¯t go out hunting again after escaping the Archyeas¡¯ fangs. Obviously, the Lesser Demon didn¡¯t even see him, but Percy had other things to do after two successful hunts. The first thing he did after reporting his find to the Guild was to bring the Berserk Rabbit carcasses to Butcher Kevin. Percy kept the corrupted Berserk Rabbits since Erdwin said they were worthless but made sure to give Kevin enough work until late into the night. Afterward, Percy returned to his room, where he used [Consume] on the corrupted Berserk Rabbits. He¡¯d expected something unique to happen because the Berserk Rabbits were corrupted, but nothing special happened. [Consume] worked like usual. [11 Berserk Rabbits(Corrupted) have been consumed. 151 Prosperity has been added.] This pushed his accumulated Prosperity to a decent number, which Percy checked with a smile. ¡ºPercy ¡» [Ego ¨C Coin of Prosperity] [Tier] ¨C [Mortal-5] ¡ª [Empty] ¡ºCoin of Prosperity¡» Prosperity: 240 ?Consume After consuming the corrupted Berserk Rabbits, Percy focused on his mana control until late into the night. He had to calm his nerves, which was easily achieved by focusing on mana. Training mana ¨C or mana in its essence ¨C cast a calming effect all over his body. When Percy reached the butcher¡¯s shop, it was late at night. He had heard from many that the shops were open until late today because nobody wanted to close their shops and go to sleep. It¡¯s not like the Demon will emerge from underneath your bed the moment you fall asleep. Percy was unsure if he was the weird one for not being too worried about the Lesser Demon. He was sure the Guildmaster would find and kill the Archyeas soon. Still, it was nice to find Kevin still awake. When he saw Percy, the butcher was cleaning up, preparing to leave. ¡°Good job, kiddo,¡± Kevin said with a smile, ¡°To think you would hunt 89 Berserk Rabbits in a day and discover the threat looming around Raewood. It¡¯s amazing to think you were weak and barely able to kill three Berserk Rabbits two weeks ago.¡± ¡°You have changed. In a good way!¡± Percy smiled wryly but didn¡¯t say anything. He was not sure what to say. Did I change that much? He didn¡¯t know. Maybe he did change a little. But Percy liked the current him better than the person he¡¯d been in the past. A thin smile blossomed on his lips. ¡°Unfortunately, your luck ends there. At least, for today,¡± Kevin chuckled, retrieving a bunch of pelts, paws, and crimson eyeballs alongside a coin pouch, ¡°I cannot give you the same price for the rabbit meat. We¡¯re having a surplus of Berserk Rabbit meat since everyone is hunting them. I know it¡¯s annoying, but I cannot pay everyone the usual price if I want to make a living.¡± ¡°I understand, and it¡¯s totally fine. The bonus from the Guild will probably rebalance the losses made from the surplus of Berserk Rabbits on the market,¡± Percy shrugged and reached for the coin pouch. He attached the pouch to his belt and safely stored everything in his leather bag. ¡°Erdwin is still awake, right?¡± Percy asked hopefully. ¡°He should be, but don¡¯t expect too much money from him. Erdwin won¡¯t give you the same prices as two days ago either.¡± ¡°I got it. Thank you for your hard work. Keep it up,¡± Percy said, turning around and leaving. Kevin chuckled and shouted through the shop, ¡°I¡¯m pretty sure I should have said that to you, kiddo!¡± He walked out with a smile and moved over to Erdwin¡¯s shop while checking his finances. [5x Silver Coins ¨C Ordinary ¨C 525 Prosperity] [159x Copper Coins ¨C Ordinary ¨C 159 Prosperity] [Iron Dagger ¨C Average Quality ¨C 171(216) Prosperity] ¡­ That¡¯s not too bad. Kevin gave me 70 copper coins even though he said he couldn¡¯t pay me the usual price. It is a little bit lower, but not as little as I expected. What now? The eyeballs should still be worth roughly as much as before. Since they¡¯re used for potions, the Alchemists will always require more. Maybe if I say 1.5 copper per eyeball, he will agree? The rest¡­will probably not earn as much. The real challenge was going to be Merchant Erdwin. The merchant had always been his biggest challenge to make a quick buck. Percy was still unsure if Erdwin wasn¡¯t taking advantage of him even now, but the merchant was also why he was the wealthiest he had ever been. Nonetheless, business was business, and Percy wanted to improve. He wanted to improve. How low will he go? Reaching the familiar alley leading to Erdwin¡¯s shop didn''t take long. His shop was only dimly illuminated, but that was enough. Percy found Erdwin seated behind his counter. He didn¡¯t pay much attention to the surroundings and focused on something lying on the counter instead. After today¡¯s event, it was expected that most citizens would have a hard time falling asleep, but Percy couldn¡¯t see any worry in Erdwin¡¯s expression. If anything, he looked relaxed. The bell chimed quietly, resounding through the silent shop when Percy stepped inside. Erdwin looked up in surprise but smiled upon seeing Percy. ¡°There he is, our town¡¯s little hero,¡± Erdwin teased before his voice turned a bit more serious, ¡°You have a good eye.¡± Percy returned the merchant¡¯s smile, ¡°Does that mean you will give me a discount for today¡¯s purchases?¡± ¡°Obviously not.¡± Erdwin laughed before gesturing to him to show what he had to sell. ¡°You know about the surplus of Berserk Rabbits, right?¡± Percy had to suppress a heavy sigh. He nodded reluctantly. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t make it too difficult for you today. I will give you eight copper for each Berserk Rabbit. I don¡¯t mean their meat, bones, and the like. A pair of eyeballs, paws, and their pelt for eight copper coins per set.¡± Adding the copper coins earned from the guild mission, the hunting bonus, and Kevin¡¯s money, that¡¯s about¡­11 copper coins for every Berserk Rabbit. That¡¯s not too bad. Percy expected a worse offer. Thus, before Erdwin could change his mind, Percy stretched his hand to accept the deal. ¡°That would be 89 Berserk Rabbits sets¡­That should be around¡­seven silver coins and a dozen copper if I¡¯m not wrong,¡± He smiled, retrieving the Berserk Rabbits¡¯ remnants from his bag. One by one. Erdwin¡¯s smile cracked, ¡°You managed to hunt so many?¡± Percy grinned in response and held his hand wide open. ¡°Don¡¯t worry; You will get your money back in a few minutes,¡± he said, turning around to point in one corner of the shop. I think I¡¯ll need some armor and a proper pair of boots.¡± Percy spun back to Erdwin. ¡°How about helping your most loyal customer to stay alive? I¡¯d love a nice discount!¡± Erdwin chuckled but noticed how serious Percy was. He shot a short glance into the corner of the counter where a book showing the Archyeas¡¯ image was displayed. Percy noticed the merchant¡¯s sudden motion, and his eyes glimmered victoriously. I¡¯m going to win this battle, Erdwin! B1 Chapter 24 - Enchanted ¡°You got what you wanted. Leave now!¡± Erdwin cursed, gesturing to Percy to leave. Percy wasn¡¯t going to drag this out. He grasped the bundles of goods and grinned when several interfaces popped up. It looked like he had a lot to check out later. ¡°Thank you for your generosity,¡± Percy bowed to the merchant teasingly and rushed out of the shop. Erdwin¡¯s playful anger dispersed, replaced with a faint smile. He glanced at the book displaying the Archyeas¡¯ image and sighed deeply. ¡°I hope this will help you.¡± Percy returned to the Angel¡¯s Brew Inn. His room wasn¡¯t shrouded in darkness as expected, but moonlight illuminated his room faintly. That wasn¡¯t enough, so Percy moved to a small lamp he¡¯d purchased not too long ago. It was a second-hand mana lamp of Trash Quality, which was inferior to Low Quality and already damaged. The mana lamp wasn¡¯t anything special, but by infusing some mana into it, Percy could illuminate his room to read something. But today, he wasn¡¯t going to read. Percy unfolded the bundle of goods on his bed and smiled like a child bombarded with toys and sweets. He didn¡¯t buy many things, but they cost a small fortune. Still, Percy wasn¡¯t displeased. If anything, he was over the moon. [Set of Clothes(Hemp) ¨C Extraordinary Quality ¨C 23 Prosperity] [Hill Hog Hide Boots ¨C Extraordinary Quality ¨C 84 Prosperity] If these clothes tear as fast as the average linen clothes, I¡¯ll get back to Erdwin and twist his neck! After spending days using several sets of linen clothes of average quality, Percy invested a little bit more in durable garments. The hemp clothes should last longer. They were of better quality, and the raw material was better suited to his line of work. At the same time, Percy hoped that the hemp clothes could either be enchanted or that he could reinforce them for protection and to ensure they would last longer. The Hill Hog Hide Boots were a bit expensive, but Percy needed them. His old boots were about to fall apart. But that wasn¡¯t why he purchased the boots made from Hill Hog hide. They were more expensive due to their comfortable yet highly durable material. His Ego should be able to upgrade the boots drastically. However, the main course of today¡¯s purchase wasn¡¯t the set of clothes or the Hill Hog Hide Boots. The main course was the armor made of hardened leather. It had been tanned and dyed, giving the armor a rich, dark brown ¨C almost black ¨C color. The armor¡¯s main piece covered Percy¡¯s torso. It was made from several layers of thick leather and fit perfectly, providing both protection and mobility. Moving around was a little rough at first, but Percy got quickly used to the soft leather padding on the inside of the armor. He would be perfectly fine after wearing it for a few hours or days. The pauldrons were made of curved leather plates attached to the main piece with straps and buckles to adjust their first, whereas the forearm guards, also crafted from thick leather, were secured in place with additional straps. The forearm guards weren¡¯t connected to the main piece, and Percy was certain Merchant Erdwin would sell them separately under normal circumstances. [Tempered Leather Chestplate(River Boar) ¨C Marvelous Quality ¨C 305 Prosperity] [Tempered Vambrace(River Boar) ¨C Marvelous Quality ¨C 129 Prosperity] [Tempered Vambrace(River Boar) ¨C Marvelous Quality ¨C 129 Prosperity] The Prosperity I can gain from consuming everything is almost as much as I paid. Percy realized this only now. The goods were worth 670 Prosperity, but surprisingly, he paid only seven silver and 50 copper coins. While that was almost one silver more than the Prosperity Percy could earn, the Prosperity count of everything he purchased was usually half or lower than the coins he paid. There were still a few things Percy didn¡¯t understand about [Consume] and his Ego, but he comprehended enough to know that today¡¯s purchase was a stroke of great fortune. That is much more valuable than seven silver coins. No wonder he was angry when I used the pity card¡­ Maybe I shouldn¡¯t have said that he¡¯ll be at fault if I die. That was a low blow. Despite feeling ashamed, Percy knew it had been necessary to trick Erdwin. He needed better equipment and more money to grow stronger. ¡°Can I connect the forearm guards to the rest of the armor? That would make everything so much easier,¡± Percy murmured but proceeded with his task as if he had never said anything. He emptied his coin pouches, revealing six silver and 21 copper, and nodded slowly as the cogs in his mind rattled. That should be enough. Darkness oozed from his palm as he triggered [Consume] to swallow his silver coins. It expanded quickly, revealing several rows of razor-sharp teeth before it devoured the silver, leaving 21 copper coins behind. [Six Silver Coins have been consumed. 630 Prosperity has been added.] Usually, Percy didn¡¯t feel much when he used [Consume], but this time was oddly similar to the sensation spreading through him when he devoured the Gnoll¡¯s corpse. Is that how it feels when my Ego is pushing me closer to an rank-up? The theory had some foundation but required more testing to be proven. That was precisely what Percy did now that he¡¯d accumulated some Prosperity. ¡ºPercy ¡» [Ego ¨C Coin of Prosperity] [Tier] ¨C [Mortal-5] ¡ª [Empty] ¡ºCoin of Prosperity¡» Prosperity: 870 ?Consume He spread his dagger, new clothes, armor, and boots out before him and observed them intently. ¡°I don¡¯t think I can upgrade the iron dagger any further. Maybe it would work if it wasn¡¯t Average Quality,¡± Percy shrugged and pocketed the iron dagger again, leaving the Hill Hog Hide Boots, the hemp clothes, and the River Boar leather armor. Before checking out the hemp clothes '' interface, he used [Consume] on Prosperity first. Set of Clothes(Hemp) This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Extraordinary Quality 23 Prosperity ¡°No crossed-out words¡­ Nothing, really?¡± Percy had expected that scenario, yet not really. He¡¯d tested infusing the silverish-golden threads that appeared whenever he used [Consume] on Prosperity with the interfaces to change them, so he wasn¡¯t shocked to the core when he saw no significant changes in the interface. His leather pouches, bags, and other ordinary goods revealed no crossed-out words. Percy had theorized that their quality was too bad to add any runic enchantments. But that didn¡¯t seem to be the case. The hemp clothes were of Extraordinary Quality. He immediately switched over to the other interfaces, fusing some silverish-golden threads with their interfaces. Hill Hog Hide Boots Extraordinary Quality 84 Prosperity [Tough Hide] ¨C Tempered Vambrace(River Boar) Marvelous Quality 129 Prosperity [Guard], [Reinforce] ¨C Tempered Vambrace(River Boar) Marvelous Quality 129 Prosperity [Guard], [Reinforce] ¨C Tempered Leather Chestplate(River Boar) Marvelous Quality 305 Prosperity [Mana Repair], [Reinforce], [Tough Hide] The sight unfolding before him was fascinating. While several silverish-golden threads fused with the interface to change something, some threads remained as they were. First of all, not all threads transform into potential enchantments. That doesn¡¯t mean I cannot use them to upgrade something, but it probably indicates that nothing significant will change when I reach the limit of that particular ¡®path¡¯. The other threads have a specific end: the runic enchantments. Percy tilted his head and continued analyzing the information at his disposal. So¡­ is a combination of material and quality determining whether I can add runic enchantments? Or is the form of the item also important? That might influence the type of runic enchantment I can apply to the item, but it shouldn¡¯t determine whether I can add runic enchantments or not. Then again, it¡¯s odd that the iron dagger showed me two runic enchantments but blocked my attempts at investing more Prosperity into them. Maybe the material determines if I can make enchantments in the first place, and the finished product¡¯s quality is one of the most critical factors in deciding how many runic enchantments I can add. Or how important the runic enchantments can be. Percy had often been in Erdwin¡¯s shop to study his Common Artifacts since he first visited the merchant. None of them had multiple enchantments. However, Percy realized that more refined weapons and armor pieces usually had runic enchantment with more potent effects. He understood that he was getting somewhere and grinned foolishly before moving on. [Consume] on Prosperity applied jumped into effect. [Tempered Leather Chestplate¡¯s material has been reinforced. 99 Prosperity has been deducted.] Percy infused as much Prosperity into the [Tough Hide] option before he sensed a bottleneck. The changes in the leather chestplate were subtle but still noticeable. The dark-brown color was barely visible. Instead, the chestplate was black now. He nodded slowly and repeated the process twice with [Mana Repair] and [Reinforce] [Tempered Leather Chestplate¡¯s durability has been enhanced. 99 Prosperity has been deducted.] [Tempered Leather Chestplate¡¯s mana conductivity has been reinforced. 99 Prosperity has been deducted.] Percy sensed a bottleneck before the 100th Prosperity was infused each time. He could instinctively tell [Reinforce] and [Tough Hide] were different from [Mana Repair]. It was possible to proceed infusing more Prosperity into [Reinforce] and [Tough Hide] and reach the end of the path, whereas the same didn¡¯t apply to [Mana Repair]. He wasn¡¯t blocked from investing more Prosperity into [Mana Repair], which was the case with either of the iron dagger¡¯s enchantments. Still, the chestplate¡¯s mana conductivity wouldn¡¯t be further improved even if he were to spend his remaining 483 Prosperity on it. Even though Percy was very curious about the [Mana Repair] enchantment, he was too impatient. He was more interested in whether it was possible to engrave an enchantment on his armaments using his Ego or if it would fail.. Until now, Percy had only been theorizing. It was about time to prove the theory! Percy used [Consume] on Prosperity again. [Tempered Leather Chestplate¡¯s durability has been enhanced. 401 Prosperity has been deducted.] [Durability reached its limit. [Reinforce] is overflowing with Prosperity. [Reinforce] will be interwoven into the essence of the Tempered Leather Chestplate.] The interface revealed more words than usual. He was curious about some terms and could come up with more theories, which may help him study his Ego in-depth, but his attention remained on the Tempered Leather Chestplate, its insides to be precise. Dozens of azure-colored threads poured out of the tempered leather, wiggling around seemingly without a plan. That changed when the interface of the Tempered Leather Chestplate changed, removing the line covering [Reinforce]. Tempered Leather Chestplate(River Boar) Marvelous Quality 713 Prosperity [Mana Repair], [Reinforce], [Tough Hide] The threads felt like mana. Closing his eyes, Percy could perceive mana flow around and within the Tempered Leather Chestplate, and he shuddered involuntarily. He wasn¡¯t the best at sensing his surrounding mana just yet, but the mana threads were on a different level compared to the mana particles in the air. They were pure and condensed¡­and engraved themselves into the leather chestplate. The mana threads, interwoven into the Tempered Leather Chestplate, etched a circle inside the armor before continuing engraving a flawless symbol ¨C a simple image depicting an armor ¨C inside it. Percy could perceive all of that with his eyes closed. It surprised him but he wasn¡¯t terrified. If anything, Percy was exhilarated. ¡°I knew it!¡± He exclaimed, clenching his fists tightly. His hair stood up to its end as he excitedly eyed the runic enchantment. Percy did not only acquire his first artifact today. He created it! Even though Erdwin did his utmost to dissuade him from purchasing a ordinary ¨C though well-crafted ¨C leather armor, Percy did it nonetheless. Erdwin¡¯s reasoning made sense. A low-ranked Artifact would be better than the Tempered Leather Armor even if made from the River Boar''s hide. A runic enchantment could be a deciding factor between life and death. Percy understood that point very well. However, the Tempered Leather Chestplate was made with excellent material by a master of his ¨C or her ¨C work. Most Common Artifacts within his budget were unlikely to be better than the Tempered Leather Chestplate. Even if one of the Common Artifacts had an enchantment that pushed its defense to a higher level once activated, Percy was unwilling to give up on the Tempered Leather Chestplate. Rightfully so. Percy proved his point, even if it was only to himself. And, of course, he had spent almost 700 Prosperity ¨C equivalent to 700 copper coins ¨C on the Tempered Leather Chestplate, but the armor was not what it used to be. The material had been reinforced, its mana conductivity was enhanced, and it gained a runic enchantment. It was so much more than the ordinary piece or armor it used to be. It was an Artifact! For how much can I sell this? B1 Chapter 25 - Herb Hunt Selling the Tempered Leather Chestplate was worth consideration. If he could earn more coins from selling the Artifact than he¡¯d used on purchasing the armor and applying the Enchantment with his Ego, Percy could create an infinite amount of money. Other than the massive haul of money he could earn, Percy would have an easy time increasing his Tier since he would have to use his Ego to apply the runic enchantments. Using his Ego to enchant the Tempered Leather Chestplate, reinforce its mana conductivity, and enhance the material pushed Percy closer to the next rank. I¡¯m probably halfway to the next rank¡­or maybe a little bit further away from that rank. Amassing enough Prosperity and enchanting the forearm guards should be enough. Percy nodded slowly, grinning like a little fool. A plan formed in his head as he put on his new armor. No matter how tired he was, Percy couldn¡¯t help himself anymore. He had to test his new armor a little bit. It was unknown how much time had passed, but the youth fell asleep late into the night, hugging his Artifact tightly. ** The next morning, Percy jumped up from his bed. He was overflowing with vigor and smiled vibrantly when he saw his new equipment. The [Reinforce] enchantment was still engraved into the Tempered Leather Chestplate. ¡°I didn¡¯t dream. Good.¡± He didn¡¯t waste any time and changed into his new clothes. His old boots were hurled into the corner after he wore his new pair on top of his hemp clothes. The smile never left his face as he fastened his forearm guards and the chestplate. If anything, more excitement filled him. It didn¡¯t take long before Percy emerged in the hallway. He ate a hearty ¨C but hurried ¨C breakfast at the inn and rushed to the Guildhall, where he encountered Olivia, Tom, and some other familiar faces. The dark bags beneath their eyes showed clearly how little they slept. ¡°Good morning,¡± Percy greeted with a smile, to which Tom responded in a whispering grumble, ¡°How in the seven hells can you be so energetic? How much did you sleep?¡± Percy shrugged dismissively. He didn¡¯t sleep much either, but his entire being overflowed with energy and excitement. He had been testing [Reinforce] a few times and realized how valuable a simple runic enchantment can be. His joy of being able to engrave enchantment onto ordinary armaments intensified after that. Percy ended up spending more time experimenting with his Artifact. He infused more mana into the chestplate, which worked better than expected. The chestplate had a mana network, which could be used to infuse and strengthen the armor temporarily. This network, by the way, was something Percy had to access to activate Reinforce. It wasn¡¯t easy to study the mana network, but after spreading his mana through the chestplate multiple times, Percy had a rough understanding of the Artifact¡¯s interior. He understood how much mana the armor drained for simple tasks and the amount required to activate [Reinforce]. It was important to note that activating and maintaining a runic enchantment were different functions. The initial trigger to activate the runic enchantment was usually the most expensive. That was also the case with [Reinforce]. It drained almost half of Percy¡¯s mana reserves and forced him to provide it with mana at all times. Splitting his mind to supply the enchantment with mana while fighting was difficult. Therefore, Percy decided to test how straining it would be to maintain [Reinforce] at his current proficiency level or if it was enough to trigger activate [Reinforce] when he was in a dire situation. Maybe it was enough to activate his enchantment before he would be torn into shreds. The way doesn¡¯t matter. As long as I survive, everything will be fine! ¡°It was about time to upgrade your equipment.¡± Olivia smiled, suppressing a yawn. She stayed awake all night because she thought about the Archyeas whenever she was about to fall asleep. The Lesser Demon appeared before her, ripping the young woman into shreds. Only when she was lying in a puddle of blood ¨C her blood ¨C did she wake up from the nightmare. ¡°I don¡¯t think we should consider linen clothes ¡®equipment,¡± Percy chuckled lightly, ¡°I got the equipment from Erdwin. It¡¯s perfect!¡± Erdwin was the only merchant with high-quality artifacts in his shop. Mentioning the merchant was enough to silence all unspoken questions. All that was left were curious gazes, but Percy ignored them. He inquired about today¡¯s news of the rabbit plague and the Lesser Demon. ¡°We haven¡¯t heard anything about the Archyeas, but Guildmaster Lexter is already out of town to hunt the Lesser Demon. You don¡¯t have to worry about that. On the other hand, the Berserk Rabbit plague will be solved by today. The Guild-issued rewards will cease by the end of the day. I recommend you use today to the fullest to earn a quick buck.¡± Olivia winked at Percy teasingly, who nodded slowly before turning to the wall of missions with a thoughtful expression. I will probably not find any Berserk Rabbits on the outskirts of the forest if the rabbit plague is taken care of today, If I want to hunt Berserk Rabbits today, I¡¯d have to enter the deeper parts of the forest. That¡­should be fine now. My Tier is decent, I trained a lot, and I have an Artifact. Even without enchantments, the Tempered Leather Chestplate would have protected me well from most Common Monsters. Reinforced and with runic enchantment, not even Gnolls will be able to harm me¡­probably. But then again¡­maybe I should avoid large groups of Gnolls until I¡¯m a little stronger. Percy¡¯s eyes landed on a few missions, and his eyes lit up. He retrieved the missions from the wall of missions and walked back to Olivia. She raised an eyebrow but registered the missions nonetheless. ¡°Collecting herbs might not be as profitable as hunting monsters, but that doesn¡¯t mean it will be easy. Be careful and pay attention to your surroundings at all times. The forest is dangerous!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I will be fine,¡± Percy responded, leaving the Guildhall once the missions were registered. Finally, Percy could collect some herbs and other plants for Leonhard! Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon. ** Entering the forest near Raewood¡¯s gate was a simple matter. Many Adventurers had entered the forest through the same paths even earlier than Percy, clearing the outskirts from potential enemies. The aftermath of some battles was still visible ¨C mostly blood and body parts of Berserk Rabbits ¨C but Percy ignored most of them. Instead of letting the bloody details around him distract Percy, he focused on channeling mana through his nose, eyes, and ears in a smooth cycle, enhancing his senses partially. Since Percy couldn¡¯t enhance each sense individually while staying focused on the surroundings, he had to create a small mana cycle. It was far from perfect and required some refinement once he learned how to control mana better, but it would do its designated task satisfactorily. There won¡¯t be many monsters other than Berserk Rabbits near Raewood for another day or two. A Gnoll might be powerful, but hundreds of Berserk Rabbits are more than enough to kill one of them. Most monsters would stay away from the Berserk Rabbit dens until the plague had been taken care of. Only monsters like Gnolls, which Berserk Rabbits tended to avoid under normal circumstances, or the Archyeas would stay in the region. Percy shuddered, recalling the Archyeas¡¯ appearance, and sent a silent prayer, hoping his first encounter with the Lesser Demon yesterday would be the last time he would see it. The Guildmaster will hunt the Demon, and everything will return to normal! Reassured by his train of thought, Percy skulked deeper into the forest. Hours of searching for herbs and hunting Berserk Rabbits passed, and it was already noon when his stomach complained to him. He ate enough before leaving the town, but his stomach had developed into an endless pit after gaining access to mana. Percy was fortunate enough to carry a care packet from the baker. Leonhard had been a little harsh with Percy for a while, especially after hearing about his dilemma with the injured Gnoll, but the baker realized how stubborn his young friend was when he got up to train merely a few days after escaping certain death. Understanding how stubborn Percy was didn¡¯t mean Leonhard approved of his behavior. But even his approval didn¡¯t matter too much. It wasn¡¯t Leonhard¡¯s business to judge Percy for his behavior or force him to do something ¨C or not to do something. It was Percy¡¯s life, and he was old enough to decide what he wanted to do. Thus, after a few difficult days, baker Leonhard returned to behaving normally around Percy. Percy had been overjoyed and purchased a basket of highly nutritious snacks. They were small and filling, perfect to eat in a forest full of dangerous monsters. Percy nibbled on the snacks while checking his bags. [Crescent Ruby Grass ¨C Low Quality ¨C 0 Prosperity] [Crescent Ruby Grass ¨C Average Quality ¨C 2 Prosperity] [Crescent Ruby Grass ¨C Trash Quality ¨C 0 Prosperity] Until now, Percy had only found some Crescent Ruby Grass. Each grass blade was given an interface, which was not further surprising. The blades were thicker than his thumb and between ten to twenty centimeters long. The longer blades were more valuable, but the determining factor of the Crescent Ruby Grass¡¯ quality was its color. The more vibrant the ruby gleam, the higher its quality. ¡°I can give Leonhard the Average Quality grass and complete the missions with the inferior Crescent Ruby Grass.¡± There were probably more than 50 Crescent Ruby Grass blades in his bag. According to his Ego, they weren¡¯t particularly valuable, but the quantity really mattered here. A single patch of Crescent Ruby Grass contained more than a hundred blades if you¡¯re lucky enough to find a decent-sized one. Percy wasn¡¯t that lucky. He found two tiny patches through sheer luck. The books revolving around the dangers and treasures born in the wilderness greatly helped Percy. They showed him how to pluck the Crescent Ruby Grass and what to look out for. It was owed to the books and his high theoretical understanding that he found the small patches of Crescent Ruby Grass. Applying his knowledge in practice was different than expected, but Percy was satisfied. He knew what the grass blades felt like and how they smelled and sensed the subtle changes in the environment around the grass patches. It wasn¡¯t much, but now he knew that the mana near the Crescent Ruby Grass patches was not only slightly denser but that their properties were different as well. The properties weren¡¯t distinct in the air, however, upon absorbing some of it, Percy felt his used-up mana replenish faster. On his hunt for Crescent Ruby Grass and other herbs, Percy encountered several groups of Berserk Rabbits. He considered returning to Raewood to sell their carcasses, but it was a hassle to run back and forth. Percy was unwilling to waste his time for a few copper coins. However, storing them in his bags for half a day would deteriorate the carcass¡¯ quality. It would rot quickly in this weather. That was how Percy used [Consume] on the slain Berserk Rabbits. His heart was in pain, but it was soothing to know that he didn¡¯t waste a single carcass. They transformed into Prosperity and pushed him closer to the next rank. ¡ºPercy ¡» [Ego ¨C Coin of Prosperity] [Tier] ¨C [Mortal-5] ¡ª [Empty] ¡ºCoin of Prosperity¡» Prosperity: 435 ?Consume Percy had a few plans with his Prosperity, but upgrading his Tier didn¡¯t belong to them. He¡¯d much rather invest his Prosperity into his armaments to create Artifacts, while his Ego would accumulate enough energy to increase his rank nonetheless. It would be weird to disappear into the forest with ordinary forearm guards and return with one or two enchanted forearm guards¡­right? He chuckled lightly, thinking about his next move, when his senses picked up an anomaly. Multiple anomalies, to be precise. So much mana! There was at least twice or thrice as much mana around him than normally. The slight increase in mana density around the Crescent Ruby Grass wasn¡¯t this intense. That could have multiple reasons, but Percy¡¯s mind pushed to a particular reason. Natural treasures! There has to be something more valuable than the Crescent Ruby Grass nearby! Percy was ready to push through the thicket when he heard a pained yelp. He froze in his tracks and held his breath subconsciously. The Archyeas?! No. There is no giggling. There was only one sound. It was somewhat familiar but not imprinted into his mind like the Lesser Demon¡¯s giggling. The yelping returned, but it was even quieter than before. Percy took a deep breath of air and slid stealthily around the taller bushes to find a small gap between two small thorn bushes. His eyes narrowed to tiny slits as he infused mana into them, revealing a chaotic scene behind the bushes. A batch of flowers with ocean-blue petals attracted his attention, but the Gnoll writhing on the ground before a single plucked flower was certainly more interesting. The Gnoll was dying, and the culprit was a¡­flower¡­ ** Patreon has already been launched. If you''re interested in reading more about Percy''s story, go ahead and join my Patreon. You can find 15 Advanced Chapters on my Patreon! B1 Chapter 26 - Paresis Doom A single flower had been plucked, but that was enough to kill a mature Gnoll. It was more than enough reason to be vigilant but not enough to run for his life. That wasn¡¯t necessary. Percy eyed the plucked flower and inspected it intently from a safe distance. He studied the dim glow shrouding the ocean-blue petals, the flower¡¯s vibrant stalk, which seemed to writhe in pain, not unlike the dying Gnoll, and the light brown roots, which were also shrouded in something. No. The roots release something. Is that mana? Maybe, I don¡¯t know. One thing for sure¡­this mana mist, or whatever it is, is deadly. It was hard to see at first, but once Percy knew something shrouded the roots, he could see the mist much better. It enveloped the Gnoll and killed the monster. It stopped writhing and ceased moving altogether a few seconds later. The Gnoll was dead, yet Percy didn¡¯t consider moving from the spot. He stayed right where he had been while supplying his eyes with mana once the mist disappeared when he cut the mana infusion. It took several minutes and almost his entire mana reserves before the mist dispersed. The deadly flower¡¯s root had stopped releasing the lethal mist. What is this flower? I¡¯m drawn to it, even though I know how deadly it is. Percy shuddered. He knew instinctively that the flowers were something special. It was obvious that the Gnoll had been in a similar situation and that many monsters would react similarly. They would love to pluck these flowers ¨C preferentially without the dying part, of course. His attention drifted to the plucked flower near the dead Gnoll while countless thoughts flashed through his mind. At last, his curiosity and greed overwhelmed his fear of the unknown. Percy emerged from the thicket, his head flicking left and right in vigilance as he approached the flower slowly. At last, his eyes drifted to the Gnoll, which he inspected quickly. There are no surface injuries. It stopped breathing just like that. A shudder spread through his body as he imagined what would happen if he had been in the Gnoll¡¯s stead. What if the Gnoll hadn¡¯t been there? Percy would have plucked the flower carelessly. He didn¡¯t want to acknowledge his foolishness, but Percy knew himself better than anyone. Fear flickered in his eyes as he eyed the plucked flower. He didn¡¯t dare to walk closer, let alone touch it, to claim possession of the flower. I¡¯ll be dead if I take a single sniff of the smog. If there is a small dose left in the roots and my touch triggers the plant¡¯s defensive mechanism¡­ No, I cannot afford to risk it. Despite thinking like that, Percy desired the flower. A simple plan was needed to transfer the flower¡¯s possession to him forcefully. Percy focused on the surrounding mana and absorbed it, replenishing his reserves swiftly. Thanks to the mana-dense environment, filling his body with mana didn¡¯t take long. His reserves were little, but it should be enough for the task ahead. He stared intently at the plucked flower, took a few brave steps closer to it ¨C until his nerves caved in ¨C and used [Consume]. Coin of Prosperity was a confusing Ego. Not much was known about Egos, but Percy learned that Coin of Prosperity was somewhat unique among the known Egos. That was part of the reason he had yet to gather the courage to tell others about it. But the reasoning wasn¡¯t that simple. Percy was not afraid that the Guild would take advantage of him anymore. Maybe he was worried about that before, but not now. Now that he was more knowledgeable, Percy understood that the Guild would support him rather than take advantage of his Ego. They would love to gain an unaffiliated Ego. He wasn¡¯t tied to nobles and thus was perfect to be trained as a powerhouse of the Guild. That was as far as Percy¡¯s understanding of the Guild and their relationship with the kingdom¡¯s nobility went. The Guild wasn¡¯t mistreated, but they lacked powerful Egos. Percy could reveal his Ego and receive support¡­if he wasn¡¯t afraid of his Ego¡¯s power and what others would think if he revealed the full potential of his Ego ¨C or what he¡¯d learned until now. Percy used [Consume] on the plucked flower, knowing he hadn¡¯t claimed it yet. There was no interface, but that didn¡¯t matter. All it needed was enough mana to claim the plucked flower by force. That was exactly what Percy did. The abomination of darkness shot out of his palm, draining his mana rapidly even before reaching the target. The abominations¡¯ maw shot wide open, revealing its rows of razor-sharp teeth, and swallowed the whole flower. [Paresis Doom has been consumed. 985 Prosperity has been added.] ¡°Oh shit!¡± Percy blurted aloud, ignoring the exhaustion that came with the strain of using up his mana reserves instantly. Consuming the flower, apparently called by the name Paresis Doom, devoured Percy¡¯s mana reserves entirely. It wasn¡¯t precisely inconspicuous either. Still, using [Consume] on the plant rather than touching it until his Ego would officially acknowledge it as his possession was much better than dying. He was exhausted and strained, which wasn¡¯t favorable in his current position away from civilizations, but that was also something Percy had considered. [Your Tier increased by one rank] It was difficult to hide his smile when the flood of mana hit him. His exhaustion was no more, and hunger replaced the strain on his body. Percy snickered at the oh-so-familiar hunger and retrieved the remaining snacks from baker Leonhard. ¡°I sure hope you¡¯ll bake me an amazing batch of cookies,¡± Percy mumbled into the forest while wolfing down the baker¡¯s snacks until nothing was left. This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience. The snacks should have lasted him a week, maybe even longer. He¡¯d spent a small fortune to purchase them in case he got hungry after harsh training sessions or felt like snacking in the middle of the forest. His expression soured a little when the last cookie disappeared in his mouth, but his expression lit up when he glanced at the notification again. Almost 1000 Prosperity for a single flower. There are more than a dozen of them! Greed flickered in his eyes before they turned dull. Percy¡¯s mind was wiped and turned blank for a moment as he closed the distance to the remaining flowers. He was ready to reach down and pluck them without thinking when a squeal rang out from behind him. His eyes regained their vigor, and he spun around. The Gnoll isn¡¯t dead?!? His right hand reached for the iron dagger as he turned to the source of the noise, only to discover that the Gnoll was still lying there unmoving and that the noise came from¡­a squirrel? Percy¡¯s eyes squinted to tiny slits, and he infused some of his recuperating mana into his eyes to make sure he wasn¡¯t seeing things. But there it was, a little squirrel with a sleek, furry body. Its pristine white fur created a huge contrast to most monsters. There was not a spot of dirt on its body. That wasn¡¯t the only oddity Percy noticed about the squirrel, but it was the most prominent. He stared head-on into the squirrel¡¯s face, unsure what to do. Was he supposed to say something? It held a small nut in its tiny paws and looked back at Percy as if wondering who the idiot with a death wish was. It squeaked again, tilted its tiny head, and turned away. Percy stared behind the fluffy little beast as it disappeared in a bush. What in the seven hells was that? Did a squirrel just save my life? Percy turned to the Paresis Doom flowers and frowned deeply. They bewitched me, didn¡¯t they? Is that how the Gnoll died, and why I feel drawn to them? He made two decisions at that moment. First, the Paresis Doom flowers would be spared for the day. Second, Percy swore that he would return to the Paresis Doom flowers once he learned how to harvest them without getting killed. It was a matter of fact that they would kill him now if he tried collecting them now. However, Percy was more agitated about the Paresis Doom flower bewitching him when his guard was done. It was his mistake to lower his guard, but that didn¡¯t mean he allowed some flowers to go after his life! I underestimated the danger of the wilderness¡­again! He grit his teeth in anger. If not for the squirrel, he would be dead¡­killed by a flower. ¡°Shit!¡± Earning almost 1000 Prosperity for every Paresis Doom was extraordinary. Just thinking about collecting a dozen and selling them for more than ten silver coins per flower at Erdwin¡¯s shop filled his heart with excitement. But risking his life was plain stupid. It was already a risk to [Consume] the Paresis Doom plucked by the Gnoll. He recalled the Gnoll and turned to it. ¡°If I cannot get anymore flowers, I might as well turn you into more Prosperity,¡± Percy thought aloud, before freezing into his tracks when he saw his reflection in the bloodthirsty eyes of the Gnoll, who was supposed to be dead. But instead of staring into dull, lifeless eyes, Percy stared deep into vibrant eyes filled with hatred¡­but also pain. How?!? He stumbled backward, his hand shooting to his dagger. Percy unsheathed the dagger smoothly and circulated mana through his entire body, ready to face the deadly beast, which had yet to move from the ground. Percy remained tense in his combat stance, but the Gnoll didn¡¯t move. Not even a growl escaped its mouth. ¡°You¡­cannot move.¡± He mumbled, his eyes widening in surprise. Since when is it staring at me? How did I not notice that it was awake?? He remained still and didn¡¯t dare to breathe for a while. His guard was up, and he waited impatiently for something to happen, but the Gnoll didn¡¯t move. Several incredible long minutes passed before Percy accepted the Gnoll¡¯s condition. It could barely move its eyes, which remained locked on him. It looked deep into his eyes, but something was off. Why does it feel like it wants me to end its misery? For a Gnoll to think like that was¡­unique. They were considered bloodthirsty, wild, and not afraid of death. However, the monster before him was not like that. It was bloodthirsty ¨C nothing changed about the bloody glint in its eyes ¨C but there was something much more profound. There was fear. Percy swallowed hard. He couldn¡¯t imagine what the Gnoll was going through to welcome death, but Percy was glad he didn¡¯t touch Paresis Doom. He escaped a massive black flag. The first step was hard. Percy was still vigilant of the Gnoll, thinking it might lunge at him suddenly, but by the time the second stride followed, Percy knew that the Gnoll wouldn¡¯t move. He shuddered as he bent down with the iron dagger in his iron-tight grasp. Percy looked one last time into the Gnoll¡¯s eyes before he pressed the tip of the mana-infused blade against the Gnoll¡¯s chest. ¡°Rest in peace.¡± As the words escaped his lips ¨C Percy had no idea why the urge to speak to the Gnoll overcame him ¨C the iron dagger¡¯s tip pierced into the Gnoll. The monster didn¡¯t even flinch as the blade cut through its chest. It dug deep into the Gnoll¡¯s chest and pierced his heart, yet the monster didn¡¯t move. It couldn¡¯t. Percy didn¡¯t have to watch the Gnoll as the light of light dispersed, leaving a dull, empty shell in the monster¡¯s eye to know that it died. His Ego informed him in a familiar way. [Gnoll ¨C Mature/Poisoned ¨C 285 Prosperity] [Gnoll¡¯s Blade ¨C Low Quality ¨C 401 Prosperity] [Gnoll¡¯s Leather Armor ¨C Damaged/Low Quality ¨C 43(175) Prosperity] ¡­ Usually, the interfaces would fill Percy with excitement, but not now. He felt¡­different. It was hard to put into simple words, but Percy could tell that something had changed. He didn¡¯t even know why, yet it happened. To his misfortune ¨C or was it great fortune? ¨C Percy couldn¡¯t pay much attention to the change happening to him. He was distracted by one particular interface and a mass of compressed light that emerged from the Gnoll¡¯s chest. Percy recognized the compressed light as the Essence of a monster. He read about it often in the last few weeks and knew that it was rare to see a Monster Essence. The Monster Essence whirled around and shot in all directions before stopping above Percy¡¯s open palm, transforming into a small¡­card. [Monster Card ¨C Gnoll(Common ¨C?? ) ¨C 25,000 Prosperity] ¡°Holy seven hells!¡± B1 Chapter 27 - Monster Card The Monster Card was the size of an ordinary card used to play cards, but it was slightly thicker and far more durable. The material ¨C Percy had never seen or felt a material like this ¨C was polished and bright, almost pristine. At the first glance, the Card¡¯s frame looked silver metallic, but at the second glance, it was grayish like iron. But if Percy could tell one thing, the Monster Card wasn¡¯t made of iron. Too much mana resided in the Monster Card. If the frame was iron, the amount of mana would have shattered the Card instantaneously. His fingers slid gently across the well-polished Monster Card until his eyes landed on the image showing a fully-matured Gnoll. It was ghastly detailed, bewitching Percy. He couldn¡¯t take his eyes off the Monster Card anymore. I have a Monster Card! Percy never expected to obtain his first Monster Card like this, but it happened. He was about to become a Cardist! A chill flushed down his spine, and goosebumps spread over his body. Percy had so many questions and doubts, but his excitement overshadowed everything ¨C other than the noises resounding through the forest, of course. Percy stiffened, and his happy expression turned sourer when the rustling grew louder. Something was coming. However, instead of preparing for battle, Percy paled when he heard a giggling resound through the first. Is that? ¡­ It doesn¡¯t matter. I have to run! Percy could barely contain himself anymore. He wasn¡¯t strong enough to deal with the Archyeas, even with a Monster Card at his disposal. He was about to turn around and run back to Raewood at full speed when he glanced back at the Gnoll carcass. There was no need to think about what he was supposed to do now. Percy used [Consume] on the carcass and the Gnoll armor while rushing to the Gnoll¡¯s blade to take it back home. [Goods worth 328 Prosperity have been consumed.] The Gnoll¡¯s blade wasn¡¯t high quality but worth a small fortune of Prosperity. According to the Ego, the Gnoll¡¯s blade was twice as expensive as the iron dagger, which had already been upgraded to its limit using Prosperity. The Gnoll¡¯s blade was a scimitar. It had only one sharp edge and a pronounced curve, which made it more effective for slashing than the Gnoll¡¯s claws. If the blade hadn¡¯t been forged by a rookie of his work, Percy would have been impressed. However, the Gnoll¡¯s blade wasn¡¯t memorable for anything other than the material used to forge it. Percy didn¡¯t recognize the material, but it had to be valuable if his Ego offered hundreds of Prosperity to [Consume] it. He considered consuming the blade but changed his opinion in a split second. Now wasn¡¯t the time to decide what to do with his spoils. Percy forced his mind shut to stop overthinking and dashed through the forest. His mana stirred and pushed through his body in a swift motion. A few Berserk Rabbits appeared on his track back to Raewood, but Percy ignored them. He was faster than the little bunnies and escaped their pursuit within a few minutes. It took a while to reach Raewood ¨C Percy had been deeper in the little forest than expected ¨C and he was drenched in cold sweat once he arrived at his destination. The guards eyed him weirdly but didn¡¯t say anything. They were familiar with Percy and smiled professionally at him while waving him through the gates. Once inside, Percy took a few deep breaths. His hand shot to his coin pouch, where the Gnoll Monster Card was located, and a tired smile blossomed on his lips once he felt it. Today was going to be a good day. ** Despite his mental and physical exhaustion, Percy moved forward. He didn¡¯t really have a significant issue with his exhaustion, but gathering his thoughts was more challenging than it used to be. So much had happened, and so many things would change that his mind was overflowing with things he had to do now and countless plans for the future. Many things were about to change. His business at the Guildhall didn¡¯t take long. He briefly considered telling Olivia about the Paresis Doom flowers but decided against it. If other Adventurers heard about his find, they would look for it themselves. In the worst case, they would find the flowers and die harvesting them. That wasn¡¯t what Percy wanted. Instead of saying anything, Percy handed the Crescent Ruby Grass''s Trash and Low Quality blades to the receptionist, who updated two guild missions, completing them. Olivia gave him a small coin pouch filled with copper before he left the Guildhall to look for baker Leonhard. Percy kept the best Crescent Ruby Grass blades for the baker, whose expression changed when he saw the bushels of ruby-colored grass. Crimson spots highlighted his cheeks, and he was about to say something to Percy ¨C probably lecture him about the wilderness¡¯ danger ¨C when he noticed the youth wasn¡¯t even listening. He was absentminded and barely registered Leonhard¡¯s expression or the baker¡¯s heavy sigh. At some point, Percy left the bakery to return to the Angel¡¯s Brew Inn. He didn¡¯t remember anything after that. It wasn¡¯t even sunup when he woke up. Unfortunately, his grumbling stomach didn¡¯t care about his sleep and wanted to be fed. You will never be satisfied, will you? He tapped his belly and glanced at a small pouch. Snippets of memories resurfaced. Baker Leonhard gifted Percy a small batch of his newest creations before leaving the bakery. The timing was perfect. It was almost too good to be true. Percy pounced at the pouch, opened it quickly, and found a batch of disk-shaped snacks. He stared at the disks for a while, unsure what to expect. The disks weren¡¯t cookies, and they were hard. But Percy had yet to find a snack he disliked. Everything in Leonhard¡¯s bakery was tasty! He munched on one of the disks and was surprised to find a syrupy substance inside them. It was extremely sweet, yet oddly enough, it wasn¡¯t too sweet. Percy finished one sweet disk after another until nothing was left. His stomach had been silenced! Once his stomach was no longer a problem, Percy retrieved his spoils. There is not much I can do with more than 100 copper coins, but the Gnoll¡¯s blade and the Monster Card are handy. 1748 Prosperity is also enough to apply one or two enchantments on my armor or the Gnoll¡¯s blade. But what about the Monster Card? Percy inspected the Monster Card in detail and focused on the empty text underneath the Gnoll¡¯s image. A different type of interface popped up before him. It was an interface that didn¡¯t belong to his Ego. [Gnoll ¨C Healthy] [Potential: Common ??] Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work! [Augmentation] [None] Even though he didn¡¯t expect the Gnoll to have a special Augment, Percy was a little sad. It would have been great if he found a special Monster Card. But that was something his Ego could solve pretty easily. His Ego was activated, conjuring tens of silverish-golden threads around the Monster Card. Some threads connected to the Gnoll¡¯s image, while others linked with the empty descriptions. Percy willed his Ego to follow his command with some effort. He infused the silverish-golden threads into his interface, changing it slowly. Information popped up before him as understanding dawned upon him. [Gnoll ¨C Healthy] [Potential: Common ???] [Augmentation] [None] [Blade Mastery??] [A Hunter¡¯s Smell?] [Minor Strength Boost?] Several silverish-golden threads had fused into the Monster Card without changing anything, but the scenery before his eyes was pleasant enough to look at. He considered using his Prosperity to experiment with the Augmentations and the Potential but noticed quickly that he didn¡¯t have enough Prosperity. Percy had acquired a sixth sense which revolved around his Ego. The sixth sense gave him hints of what he could do and wasn¡¯t capable of just yet. Unfortunately, for now, upgrading the Monster Card¡¯s potential or adding any enhancements wasn¡¯t possible. Percy was happy nonetheless. The possibility of adding Augmentations would transform the Monster Card into a special Monster Card ¨C a Card that grants the Cardist unique powers. It was similar in the town healer¡¯s case. She¡¯d summoned a sheep while conjuring a healing spell in a desperate attempt to rescue her husband. The healer was a Cardist, and the sheep was one of her Monster Cards. It was a special Monster Card with a rare Healing Augmentation, transforming the Cardist into a full-fledged healer with magical abilities. Percy could acquire similar powers now that he possessed a Monster Card. But first, he had to become a proper Cardist. The Monster Card had to be bound to him first. What did the books say again? Cardists store their Cards in their hearts to draw their power and summon them. That means¡­I have to push it into my heart? Percy imagined tearing his chest open to press the Card into his chest and flinched. That was probably not how it worked. He glanced at the Monster Card for a while and shrugged before pressing the Card against his naked chest. The mana within the Monster Card stirred when it came in contact with his chest. It reached out for the mana inside Percy, which surged toward the Card instantaneously. The temperature around his chest rose slowly but steadily until Percy groaned in pain. However, he didn¡¯t remove the Card. It hurt, but the pain felt correct. The pain felt natural and like it was supposed to be there. Percy closed his eyes and endured the pain without stopping to circulate mana through his chest to cool the fiery heat. It was unknown how much time had passed, but the slowly rising sun and its bright rays illuminating his room indicated it had been a while. His entire body was drenched in sweat, which wasn¡¯t uncommon for Percy at this point. He ignored the sweat and looked down at his chest, where he found an image of the Monster Card instead. His hand hovered above the image that had been engraved into his chest. It was the head of a Gnoll ¨C eerily black ¨C etched into his chest. ¡°Is it supposed to be like that?¡± Percy wondered, calling his interface. ¡ºPercy ¡» [Ego ¨C Coin of Prosperity] [Tier] ¨C [Mortal-6] ¡ª [Gnoll(Common ¨C?? ) ¨C [None]] ¡ºCoin of Prosperity¡» Prosperity: 1748 ?Consume ¡°It worked.¡± The situation worked out in his favor. Even if there was no Augmentation to the Monster Card, a Gnoll was a powerful ally, especially for an upstart Adventurer like Percy. He rubbed the engraving on his chest and felt something stir within him when his finger trailed the mark. The corner of his eyes curled up, sensing his mana resonate with the Monster Card inside him. He had some questions but discarded them before they could torment his mind. Maybe it would be important to find out how Monster Cards could enter a Gifted One¡¯s body. However, one thing was for sure. It wasn¡¯t of utmost importance right now. Learning how to use his Monster Card was more important. He closed his eyes and willed his mana toward the Monster Card. The Card responded to his will and disappeared. Percy¡¯s eyes shot open with a dangerous flash. The Gnoll Monster Card emerged before him and dispersed into countless mots of light at his will. The mots spread in all directions, but not for long as a strong suctioning force pulled them toward a single spot. The mots collided, clashed, and amassed before taking form. A full-fledged adult Gnoll appeared next to Percy, sending shivers down his spine. The hyena-headed humanoid looked like a perfect replica of the despaired Gnoll he¡¯d killed. It was creepy¡­yet exhilarating. Noticing Percy¡¯s intense stare, the Gnoll turned to him. Percy didn¡¯t expect the sudden move and retreated. He fell over the edge of his bed and bumped his head falling into the wall. A groan escaped his lips, but he regained his senses momentarily. His eyes dared to the Gnoll, who had yet to move. It stared at him, waiting. ¡°Turn around.¡± Percy blurted out, and the monster turned around. ¡°Look at me.¡± The Gnoll turned back to Percy and looked at him. ¡°Do you remember who you are?¡± The Gnoll tilted its head. ¡°Are you strong?¡± It nodded. ¡°As strong as you used to be?¡± Once again, the Gnoll tilted its head. A few seconds passed before it reacted adequately. The Gnoll shook its head. Percy tried ignoring his aching head and the goosebumps all over his body as he tested a few things. He cut the Gnoll lightly with the iron dagger, observing the creature¡¯s reaction. When nothing happened, Percy continued and tested how far he could go. There had to be a limit to his commands and the monster¡¯s intelligence. Percy looked out for those limitations. Time passed slowly, and the sun rose high above the horizon, but Percy came to a final verdict. It¡¯s just like the books say. Monsters summoned through Cards are weaker than the norm. They¡¯re not as intelligent as they used to be, but the Gnoll¡¯s innate bloodthirstiness doesn¡¯t exist anymore, either. Or is it still as bloodthirsty as before but not directed at me anymore? I¡¯m registered as its master, and it has to do everything I order it. They are nothing more than puppets formed from a monster¡¯s essence. But is it really that simple? Percy shrugged again. The probability of a Monster Card forming was pitifully low. That was also why Cardists were rare and how Percy knew so little about them. Come to think of it, I don¡¯t know a single Cardist other than that healer. Or¡­maybe there are a bunch of Cardists, but they¡¯re keeping their Cards hidden? It would make sense to hide their Card. Not only was a Monster Card a powerful trump, but the likelihood of procuring a Monster Card from slaying a Cardist was also significantly higher than the drop rate of a Monster Card when hunting monsters. Percy didn¡¯t want to turn himself into a target of greed and envy, but he was curious. ¡°If my Ego says the Gnoll is worth 25,000 Prosperity¡­how much would Erdwin offer?¡± B1 Chapter 28 - [A Hunters Smell] The thought of selling the Monster Card was present. Using [Consume] to gain 25000 Prosperity in a single go sounded like a great deal, but the thought of earning several gold coins for the Monster Card at Erdwin¡¯s shop was even better. No. The Gnoll will help me gain more. Percy shook his head, various plans forming in his mind. The Monster Card would help him earn him more power than 25,000 Prosperity could achieve. Seeing the possible Augmentations he could add was enough reason to believe so. With enough Prosperity I can turn ordinary Monster Cards into powerful treasures. Percy¡¯s eyes glimmered in delight. He could use money to strenghten the Monster Card, improve their potential and add more Augmentations until¡­Percy wasn¡¯t actually sure how far he could upgrade a Monster Card¡¯s potential or if there was a limit, in the first place. Maybe the only limit was his lack of money and the deteriorating cost-efficiency. If I have to invest too much into upgrading a Monster Card it won¡¯t be worth it. While that was true, one thing was sure. The more coins he had the easier it would be to upgrade his strength. It wouldn¡¯t be challenging to unlock Monster Cards¡¯ Augmentations, increase their potential, and maybe even open up new evolution paths. The latter wasn¡¯t something Percy could be certain but some remarks in the Guild¡¯s library pointed out the possiblity. Still, Percy understood one thing better than ever. Money was power! He wasn¡¯t necessarily rich just yet, but his wealth had increased exponentially over the last few weeks. Percy had enough Prosperity to test something. He used [Consume] on Prosperity to check out if he could unlock one of the Gnoll¡¯s Augmentations. [Blade Mastery] would be amazing. If it works as intended my understanding of blades would skyrocket as well. But my Prosperity is definitely too low to unlock it¡­. Still, Percy had to test it. The Monster Card reacted differently to Percy¡¯s Ego than his Armaments. He couldn¡¯t insert a small amount of Prosperity into the Augmentations or Potential first, but had to upgrade them with one massive investmnt. That would have been frustrating, if Percy couldn¡¯t sense how much Prosperity he lacked after trying to invest his Prosperity into the [Blade Mastery] Augmentation. That¡¯s¡­some strong resistance¡­ What about [Minor Strength Boost] and [A Hunter¡¯s Smell]? The resistance isn¡¯t that strong for either of them [A Hunter¡¯s Smell] has the lowest resistance. All it takes is a small push¡­ To prove his theory, Percy used [Consume] to transform a few copper coins into Prosperity before giving [A Hunter¡¯s Smell] another try. [10 Copper coins worth 10 Prosperity have been consumed.] The resistence decreased, but it wasn¡¯t enough. [10 Copper coins worth 10 Prosperity have been consumed.] [10 Copper coins worth 10 Prosperity have been consumed.] It was still not enough. [25 Copper coins worth 25 Prosperity have been consumed.] Percy was getting impatient and invested more. He even considered consuming the iron dagger. Fortunately, he didn¡¯t do that. A new interface popped up before him. [Consume]¡¯s magic worked. [Gnoll Card¡¯s Augmentation -[A Hunter¡¯s Smell?] has been unsealed. 1800 Prosperity have been consumed.] Investing 1800 Prosperity into the Augmentation stung. His heart burned like there was no tomorrow, but Percy endured it well. He was happy to have unlocked one of his Monster Card¡¯s Augmentations and was curious what he could do with it and how the Augmentation affected him as well. Can I smell better now? It doesn¡¯t feel any different. The word manifested on his Monster Card¡¯s interface and it popped up in his normal interface as well. Percy stared at it for a few seconds, wondering what he was supposed to do. ¡ºPercy ¡» [Ego ¨C Coin of Prosperity] [Tier] ¨C [Mortal-6] ¡ª [Gnoll(Common ¨C??) ¨C [A Hunter¡¯s Smell?]] ¡ºCoin of Prosperity¡» Prosperity: 3 ?Consume You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version. ¡°Is it a passive Augmentation or do I have to channel mana into it to activate the Augmentation?¡± The answer was simple. It was neither. Percy thought about his new Augmentation and it activated on its own, draining his mana automatically to unleash its effect. Percy could barely notice a faint suctioning force as his mana reserves decreased slowly as the world around him changed drastically. No, that wasn¡¯t the truth, either. The world around him remained the same, but it was the way he perceived things around him that changed instead. The inconspicious smells around him flooded Percy all of a sudden. Old sweat, tempered leather, dried blood, the Crescent Ruby Grass¡¯ scent clinging to his leather bags, and the remains of the Berserk Rabbits that had been stored in the leather bags a while ago. Percy smelled everything and he could distinguish the smells with shocking clarity. He sniffed the air and his eyes widened. Percy¡¯s head flicked to a leather bag and his hand reached out for it. He opened the leather bag and searched through it, only to find a single blade of the Crescent Ruby Grass. ¡°I smelled that,¡± Percy murmured, his voice cracking as realization struck him. I don¡¯t have to search patches of Crescent Ruby Grass for hours anymore. I can locate them easily with this. That¡¯s not even all. I can smell the mana in the air. Crescent Ruby Grass is not even that distinct. What if I want to search more plants like the Paresis Doom. Well, mana-infused plants like Paresis Doom but less deadly plants, if possible. The thought of rushing out of Raewood to search some Crescent Ruby Grass using [A Hunter¡¯s Smell] attracted him. Percy was sure he could find some Monsters with the Augmentation as well. However, thinking back to the eerie giggling and the threat of Paresis Doom, Percy shuddered. Even if Percy ignored the demon, it was obvious he would die plucking the Paresis Doom flower. He could order the Gnoll to pluck them, but a Monster Card would shatter if the summoned monster died. Percy didn¡¯t want to risk that. The Gnoll Card was too valuable to be sacrificed like that. Thus, Percy did the only logical thing he could do in such a moment: He left the Inn, returned to the Guildhall and went up to the second floor where he spent several hours studying. The hours trickled by, yet Percy¡¯s expression didn¡¯t improve. His knowledge improved by leaps and bounds just like his understanding of Monster Cards, Augmentations, the meaning of Potential, and more. However, Percy didn¡¯t find anything about a flower called Paresis Doom. He took into consideration that the flower wasn¡¯t called like that in the books and that it had a different name, but Percy searched through several books revolving around the magical herbs, flowers, and all other plant life that mutated and evolved from the infusion of mana. To his misfortune, none of them looked like Paresis Doom or had similar effects. That was odd, but not impossible. Percy was still a mere Bronze rank Adventurer. He didn¡¯t have permission to look at the books of higher-ranked Adventurers just yet. For the record, Percy didn¡¯t understand the logic behind that. Wouldn¡¯t it be much better to share as much knowledge as possible to ensure every member of the Guild was knowledgable? Percy was sad but that didn¡¯t mean he wouldn¡¯t go hunt this morning. On the contrary, the only reason Percy wasn¡¯t frustrated was the upcoming hunt. The Archyeas was still somewhere in the forest, but Olivia assured Percy that the vile demon had to flee the opposite direction to run from Guildmaster Lexter¡¯s men. The Archyeas wasn¡¯t going to be caught that easily, however, Percy was happy with the news. The farther the demon was, the better. Percy filled his stomach to the brim, finishing a small feast of meat, vegetables, and several soup bowls ¨C which further decreased his little fortune ¨C, and left the town fully armed. [A Hunter¡¯s Smell] was activated the moment he entered the forest. Percy nearly stumbled and flopped head first to the ground when the vivid smells of everything around him bombarded him. The amount of information entering through his nose was horrifying, and Percy had to stay still for several minutes, doing no more than breathing in and out. He shuddered even after his body adapted to the changes. Everything was so¡­different. It wasn¡¯t necessarly a bad feeling, but it was unfamiliar. Still, Percy didn¡¯t take longer than half an hour until he could distinguish the smells around him and pinpoint something familiar from several directions. A few Berserk Rabbits are in front of me. But the smell is faint. There are more Berserk Rabbits to my right. Their scent is stronger. Is that because there are more of them in one pack or because they¡¯re closer¨C... The question was answered before Percy finished asking in his mind. A pack of five Berserk Rabbits charged at him, their teeth fleetched. Percy raised an eyebrow and did the only appropiate thing he could think of. He kicked the first pouncing rabbit in the head, breaking its skull and neck in one go while catching two of the remaining bunnies when they leapt at him. Catching them mid-air wasn¡¯t too difficult at his level, but ruthlessly snapping their necks wasn¡¯t something the old Percy would have been able to do. Fortunately, I¡¯m not the same person I used to be. The Berserk Rabbits couldn¡¯t even squeal. Their necks broke from Percy¡¯s iron-tight grasp before they could think of doing something. Percy looked at the slowest Berserk Rabbits, while releasing the dead bunny in his right hand. He reached out for the iron dagger and dashed to the hesitating creatures. He was faster than the little beasts. They squealed and tried to attack upon sensing that their time was coming, but their resistance was futile. Percy slashed twice and killed the two Berserk Rabbits in one go. Five interfaces popped up before Percy, and he didn¡¯t think twice before using [Consume] [Five Berserk Rabbits have been consumed. 33 Prosperity has been added.] He didn¡¯t want to bother collecting any monster carcasses today. Today, Percy was going to fill his leather bags with magical herbs and other plants! His strides were full of vigor as he paced through the little forest. To others, it might look like Percy had no idea what he was doing, and that wasn¡¯t even entirely wrong. It took him an eternity to gain a better understanding of [A Hunter¡¯s Smell]. The Augmentation was fairly simple as it enhanced his smelling sense, but there were also some specifics. For example, Percy had never been able to distinguish monsters from a distance through their smell alone. It was also a first for him to smell the difference of mana in the air and mana infused in the surrounding plant life and monsters. In the first place, Percy hadn¡¯t known it was possible to smell mana. That was somehing new for him, yet it helped him replenishing his slowly diminishing mana reserves greatly. Percy followed the most prominent mana streams to absorb the surrounding mana naturally at an accelerated rate while trying to pinpoint the location of special herbs and rare magical flowers. It took eons before he found something, but once Percy discovered the first small batches of Crescent Ruby Grass it didn¡¯t take long to find more. His success rate at finding magical plants increased further once he summoned the Gnoll to aid him. The Augmentation was a first for both Percy and the Gnoll, but it was something innate to the monster. It came to no surprise when the Gnoll discovered more plants and monsters than Percy. Since the Gnoll was loyal to him, forced to obey Percy¡¯s orders, he handed the monster its blade. That was a good call because the Gnoll discovered some worthy preys, including a mature Hill Hog. B1 Chapter 29 - Merchants Offer Percy decided not to restrain the Gnoll in any way. He gave it full rein in the battle against the Hill Hog. His understanding and control of the Monster Card had skyrocketed since he procured it, but it was painfully obvious that he was still a rookie. That was also how Percy played the Gnoll¡¯s support instead of leading the monster into the battle. He observed the Gnoll as it charged at the massive, fully-matured Hill Hog from the side. The Hill Hog turned around, grunted angrily, and was ready to attack when the Gnoll¡¯s blade streaked across its neck. The curved blade was sharp and durable but wasn¡¯t enough to kill the Hill Hog with one decisive strike. The Hill Hog¡¯s defenses were too tough. However, Percy could use the opening to pierce the iron dagger deep into the open wound. That was precisely what he did. Blood spurted from the wound even before Percy made his move. However, once the mana-infused blade rammed into the wound with significant momentum, the Hill Hog¡¯s state worsened considerably. Percy twisted the blade and pulled it out to retreat, but his observation told him that the Gnoll wouldn¡¯t do the same. It pounced on top of the Hill Hog and slashed it wildly. The attacks were fierce and would have been deadly if used against an ordinary enemy, but the Hill Hog wasn¡¯t normal. It might still be a Common Monster, but its hide was tougher than the norm. Still, the Gnoll¡¯s fierce assault did more damage than Percy¡¯s attacks would have. The Hill Hog squealed in pain and threw its body around, hurling the Gnoll through the air. Its hooves scratched the ground, and it was just about to bulldoze the Gnoll, who¡¯d dashed up to his knees when a gray flash appeared before its eyes. Percy rammed the iron dagger ¨C infused with traces of mana ¨C into the Hill Hog¡¯s eye. The Hill Hog, too focused on the Gnoll, noticed the attack too late and suffered the consequences. It grunted in surprise and smashed its head to the left, ready to break Percy¡¯s bones, but the young Cardist was already on the move. He had been forced to let go of the iron dagger, but Percy never released control of his strongest weapon: The Gnoll. He didn¡¯t know how to give the Gnoll complex orders and was still learning how to control the Gnoll efficiently, but Percy was capable enough to tell his summoned monster what it had to do to finish the Hill Hog. The Gnoll charged at the beast when the Hill Hog¡¯s head smashed in Percy¡¯s direction. It was faster than Percy and the Hill Hog, reaching the towering monster and pushing the bottom of the iron dagger deeper into the Hill Hog¡¯s head. A screeching noise rang through the vicinity, metal scrapping past bone ¨C a skull, to be precise ¨C and the Hill Hog slowed down. It lost a lot of blood, but it had been nowhere near death. However, the iron dagger reached its brain and penetrated it. The monster didn¡¯t die right away. Percy expected the interface to pop up at any moment, but the Gnoll had to slash it a few more times, weakening the creature until it collapsed. Even though the Hill Hog writhed on the ground for a few more seconds, it was as good as dead. The interface appeared before Percy¡¯s eyes shortly. [Hill Hog ¨C Mature ¨C 174 Prosperity] Percy snorted at the sight unfolding before him. How long has it been? I struggled against one of yours a few weeks ago. Now¡­everything has changed. His eyes drifted to the Gnoll, who had stopped attacking. Of course, the Gnoll Card was the biggest reason Percy had been confident at fighting the Hill Hog. Still, when he recollected his last fight ¨C or struggle ¨C against the Hill Hog mother and compared it with the fight against the fully matured Hill Hog today, he couldn¡¯t help but wonder if he¡¯d grown strong enough to defeat a Hill Hog on his own. I think I can do it without the Gnoll, but there is no need to test it out. The Gnoll is by my side. Why wouldn¡¯t I take advantage of that? It would take a while to establish proper teamwork between Percy and the Gnoll, and it was probably a matter of months before their teamwork would be seamless, but that was fine. Percy prioritized growing stronger and learning more about his powers and possibilities to ensure his safety and keep him fed. Initially, he went out hunting to earn his living expenses. He didn¡¯t want to die like a starving mutt in the sewers or the chamber of poverty like some of its previous residents. But Percy''s plan changed as he learned more about the world outside Raewood, the dangers of the wilderness, and the seemingly infinite possibilities of his Ego. Surviving was his main drive even now, but the excitement coursing through him when he fought powerful foes, the surge of power sweeping through every inch of his body when his Tier increased, and whenever he learned something new about the world, his Ego, and¡­himself, changed Percy. The changes allowed him to be happy, enjoy his life like he never could, and discover who he was and who he wanted to be. Percy didn¡¯t want to be protected by others. He understood that it was fine to rely on others in some situations, but he also learned how much better it felt to help others instead. Percy became more than he used to be in the few weeks he¡¯d manifested his Ego. He learned more about his true self in that time than the rest of his life, and if there was one thing Percy was certain about, it was the fact that he had a lot more to learn about himself and those around him. He looked forward to this from the bottom of his heart and was willing to give his utmost to learn everything about his true self. The abomination of [Consume] burst out of his palm when Percy triggered his Ego. It devoured the Hill Hog and increased his progress to the next rank and his Prosperity simultaneously. [Hill Hog has been consumed. 174 Prosperity has been added.] The Hill Hog was too massive to carry around and consumed without a second thought. After that, Percy searched for magical plants for the rest of the day. He encountered some monsters, including two more Hill Hogs, but he was pleasantly surprised when he noticed most monsters avoided the Gnoll. Percy didn¡¯t even think about terminating the Gnoll¡¯s summoning when he realized Berserk Rabbits tended to avoid Gnolls. The plague of Berserk Rabbits had been removed, but their dens hadn¡¯t been destroyed since the Berserk Rabbits¡¯ pelts and eyes were two major goods for producing highly sought-after potions and coats. Most final products were exported to other towns and cities, earning the town a fortune. Percy found the Berserk Rabbits annoying. They earned him some Prosperity, but the fights slowed him massively. Therefore, the Gnoll was perfect. It kept the annoying monsters away, helped him kill two more Hill Hogs, and supported his search for valuable magical herbs. The latter worked the best. It was already evening, and the last rays of sunlight were about to disappear beyond the horizon when Percy returned to Raewood. His bags were filled to the brim, not only with Crescent Ruby Grass. He found more! [63x Crescent Ruby Grass ¨C Average Quality ¨C 128 Prosperity] [41x Dismour Flower ¨C Good Quality ¨C 205 Prosperity] [11x Moonlight Moss ¨C Low Quality ¨C 196 Prosperity] [98x Frenzy Mushroom ¨C Average Quality ¨C 285 Prosperity] The interfaces overlapped and combined eventually, saving Percy from a nasty headache. Percy inspected the interfaces of the most valuable goods and ignored the rest. He had over a hundred blades of Crescent Grass blades of lower quality, a bunch of Dismour Flowers, more Moonlight Moss of Trash Quality, and a handful of Frenzy Mushrooms of Low Quality. He could have consumed them, but a quick buck was worth much more than the meager Prosperity he could earn from the magical plants. This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. Percy¡¯s only issue was that he had only accepted guild missions revolving around the Crescent Ruby Grass, but that shouldn¡¯t have been an issue. He had been certain Erdwin would purchase the magical plants for a high price. But that wasn¡¯t the case. ¡°Sorry, kid, I can give you an acceptable offer. Guild missions will offer you a higher fee for collecting Common magical plants than I¡¯m willing to offer. Well, there are exceptions, but nothing you brought is interesting.¡± At first, Percy felt like throwing a piece of moss at the merchant. However, he quickly realized Erdwin was doing him a favor. Instead of taking advantage of him, Erdwin told him honestly that giving everything to the guild would earn him more money. ¡°Why are you telling me that instead of making a bad offer?¡± Percy asked suspiciously. That wasn¡¯t like Merchant Erdwin. Percy stiffened when Erdwin responded with a toothy grin. ¡°I¡¯m trying to gain your trust and favorability.¡± What is that supposed to mean? He didn¡¯t care about that before but changed all of a sudden? Did something change? Percy¡¯s eyes drifted to his chest and the Gnoll blade. Does he know about the Monster Card? I don¡¯t think so. ¡°Why?¡± Erdwin first shrugged, but something in Percy¡¯s expression intrigued the merchant. ¡°I¡¯m not sure what you are hiding, but I understand that everyone has some secrets. Nobody wants everything about them to be revealed to everyone. But I¡¯m wondering how dense you think people around you are,¡± The merchant smiled smugly. He didn¡¯t mention anything directly, but Erdwin¡¯s eyes drifted knowingly to the leather bags, the Gnoll blade, and the center of the leather chestplate ¨C where the runic enchantment was engraved. Can he sense the runic enchantment? It¡¯s inside the chestplate, so I thought nobody would notice. Or can he sense that the leather chestplate is different than it used to be? He must have noticed that the leather chestplate is darker than it used to be. Percy panicked for a second but noticed how the merchant studied him. He was under the merchant¡¯s scrutiny. Calm down! He circulated mana through his system, focusing on the heart to calm down. A faint smile blossomed on his lips shortly. Maybe Percy didn¡¯t trust the merchant with his life, but that didn¡¯t mean Percy couldn¡¯t reveal some of his trump cards ¨C even if it was to distract from others. The leather bags, filled to the brim with magical plants, were suspicious, just like the sudden appearance of the Gnoll blade. Maybe others wouldn¡¯t notice, but Merchant Erdwin was no fool. I wonder who else has noticed. Well, it doesn¡¯t matter. Percy put the Gnoll blade on the wooden counter, still smiling, as he manifested the Gnoll Card in his other hand. The corner of the merchant¡¯s lips twitched. Was he surprised Percy gave in so easily, or was there something else? ¡°I¡¯m sure you understand. I don¡¯t want anyone to know about this yet. Others can play the guessing game about my Tier increases and my luck at finding magical plants, but I hope you can keep your lips sealed and ensure they¡¯ll continue guessing.¡± Percy¡¯s smile widened, ¡°That is if someone cares enough about me and my progress, which I somehow doubt. Everyone is too busy with the Archyeas and their own business. They¡¯ll not notice the Adventurer rookie¡­¡± ¡°Until it is too late and the rookie surpasses them,¡± Erdwin added with a glint in his eyes as he studied the Monster Card. ¡°Did the injured Gnoll you killed before drop this? You¡¯re lucky to be alive, kid. It has an Augmentation as well¡­To think¡­ No. It doesn¡¯t matter;¡± The merchant smiled, ¡°Are you sure you do not wish to sell it? I have never seen the augment [A Hunter¡¯s Smell], but I can already guess how it works.¡± He looks at the leather bags, his professional smile speaking volumes. ¡°How about a Hill Hog Monster Card and five gold coins for the Gnoll?¡± ¡°No¡ª....Wait, what?!¡± Percy blinked uncontrollably, unsure if Erdwin was serious. However, he didn¡¯t even have to ask to tell how serious the merchant was. Dead-serious. ¡°Monster Cards with Augmentations are quite valuable,¡± Erdwin shrugged, which Percy acknowledged silently. His eyes hovered above the Gnoll Card¡¯s interface in confusion. [Monster Card ¨C Gnoll(Common ¨C?? ¨C [A Hunter¡¯s Smell]) ¨C 26,000 Prosperity] The Augmentation wasn¡¯t considered very valuable by his Ego. It increased the Monster Card¡¯s worth by merely 1,000 Prosperity, yet Erdwin offered a Monster Card alongside five gold coins, which was 50,000 Prosperity if the gold was given to him in copper coins instead. My Tier will increase by more than one rank if I [Consume] five gold coins. Used on the Hill Hog Card or my armaments, I could cover myself in full enchants and several Augmentations. While that was true, Percy had yet to receive his remuneration for the three bags full of magical plants. As an aside, most of the plants would go to Leonhard, whom he wouldn¡¯t ask for money, but IF he gave everything to the Guild, Percy could earn several silver coins. The magical plants were worth almost 900 Prosperity. Usually, he would receive nearly 50% more copper than his Ego offered in Prosperity. ¡°I can earn two gold coins in a week with the Gnoll Card,¡± Percy shook his head. Hunting with the Gnoll is much easier, and it not only helps me repel weaker monsters with its scent but is also good at sensing danger and magical herbs from far away.¡± Erdwin clicked his tongue but nodded understandingly. ¡°Do you have an offer? Is there something to your liking?¡± He didn¡¯t want to give up on such a great deal. [A Hunter¡¯s Smell] was a good Monster Card, which could earn him a fortune if appropriately used. The most exotic magical plants were hidden from the eyes of the ordinary. However, a Cardist with [A Hunter¡¯s Smell] could find them. If Percy were a little stronger, Erdwin wouldn¡¯t have bothered offering him the gold and another Monster Card. He would have hired him to procure highly valued magical plants instead. ¡°What a shame¡­¡± He mumbled while Percy walked alongside the glass vitrine displaying a few Monster Cards. A Cardist could only connect to one Monster Card at the Mortal Tier. Replacing the Monster Card was possible, but the stronger their connection, the greater the damage to the soul once the link was severed. Soul damage could be repaired, but it would cost a fortune or take a while. ¡°Do you want the Card or specific plants?¡± Percy asked as if he could read the merchant¡¯s thoughts. ¡°Don¡¯t bother kiddo. The deeper parts of the forest are too dangerous for someone like you. You will die.¡± ¡°That confirms it,¡± He mumbled at Erdwin¡¯s comment. To be fair, Percy considered selling the Gnoll Card to the merchant for a moment. The offer was too great to ignore. He wouldn¡¯t make a significant loss if he could use the Prosperity earned from consuming the gold into another Monster Card¡¯s Augmentations, either. However, recalling the Paresis Doom flowers and listening to the merchant confirmed that the little forest was hiding some valuable treasures ¨C magical plants, which attracted the merchant¡¯s curiosity. The stingy merchant offered five gold coins and a Monster Card valued at two gold coins for the Gnoll Card. Seven gold coins for his first offer. That means I could get ten gold coins for it if I start negotiating. Why do I feel like Erdwin would pay that much? What exactly is hidden in the forest? ¡°How about this¡­¡± Percy licked his lips, realizing that he was getting somewhere when the merchant looked intently at him, a ray of hope surfacing in the middle-aged man¡¯s eyes, ¡°You tell me what plants you¡¯re looking for, how to harvest them and everything I need to know about them. In exchange, when I find them, I won¡¯t tell the Guild about any high-ranked magical plants. Instead, I will go to you and sell them to you for a fair price.¡± Erdwin noticed that Percy said ¡®when¡¯ instead of ¡®if¡¯. He would have ignored that under normal circumstances, but the confidence in the youth¡¯s voice was slightly different. ¡°Did you already fi-...¡± Erdwin saw Percy¡¯s lips twitch, nearly turning into a victorious smile, when he took the bait. The merchant chuckled, ¡°You sly bastard. You¡¯re getting better and better at this.¡± He gave up and returned to the counter, where he retrieved a thin book. ¡°I have been looking for a few plants in this region. They grow only in this area and bloom only for a few weeks. Most Adventurers don¡¯t know about them, and the Guild loves to burn them to ashes because they are said to be a ¡®little¡¯ bit too dangerous. Of course, it¡¯s only dangerous if you don¡¯t know how to pluck and store them.¡± Somehow, that sounded familiar. The merchant opened a marked page in the book and turned it around. ¡°That¡¯s the first plant I have been looking for. A dangerous plant with bewitching pores and deadly defensive mechanisms. It is the main ingredient for several valuable runic concoctions, aphrodisiacs, and similar stuff.¡± There it was, precisely what he¡¯d been looking for. Paresis Doom. B1 Chapter 30 - Clearing Acting tough worked much better than expected. Percy had been nervous and unsure how Erdwin would react, but it looked like behaving confidently was the key to success. Merchant Erdwin didn¡¯t ask him further about purchasing the Gnoll Card. He taught Percy some about the little forest''s rare and valuable plant life. He focused on the dangers, how they had to be plucked and preserved to retain their magical properties, and what monsters usually lurked near these plants. Apparently, Erdwin had some high-class clients who¡¯d hired him to procure fresh aphrodisiacs made by Paresis Doom and other fresh ingredients for unique potions, runic enchantments, and other things. His clients paid enough to attract the attention of a wealthy merchant like Erdwin. That had to mean something. Erdwin¡¯s sealed lips loosened slowly as they began talking about larger towns and cities and how foolish nobles were for wasting their fortune on aphrodisiacs. To be precise, the merchant did most of the talking. Percy was listening with great interest. He had been in Raewood since he could remember and didn¡¯t know much about the town either. The old man told him not to bother about getting to know Raewood, which he listened to until his Ego manifested. Things changed then, and his interest in the world increased by leaps and bounds. ¡°Unfortunately, not even Elite Tier Cardists have an easy time finding and harvesting Paresis Doom without falling victim to its bewitching sensation. Paresis Doom¡¯s paralyseep is highly effective once bewitched and paralyzes the victims permanently. Only Elite Cardists with very high constitution or resistance to poison can overcome paralyseep¡¯s potency,¡± Erdwin explained seriously. That means Silver rank Adventurers will die if they fall victim to Paresis Doom. It was no wonder Erdwin told him how dangerous it would be and that the Guild would burn them to ashes upon finding some Paresis Doom seedlings. It¡¯s fun to think I found the flower he¡¯d been looking for even before I acquired the Gnoll Card. Paresis Doom was only one of the plants Erdwin was searching for, but it was funny nonetheless. The downside was Percy couldn¡¯t remember where the Paresis Doom flowers were located. The irony! Percy had learned how to harvest and preserve them but didn¡¯t know where to find them. That day, Percy hadn¡¯t paid full attention to the path. He had been too focused, running away from the Archyea¡¯s eerie giggling. The Gnoll will help me find it again. Good thing I didn¡¯t accept Erdwin¡¯s offer. Percy would have to lie if the gold coins weren¡¯t enticing, but he did the right thing. The Gnoll Card would help him earn a much greater fortune than some measly gold coins! But before Percy could throw gold coins around, he had to acquire a handful of silver coins first. The merchant sent him away, apparently realizing a youth had tricked him, but he smiled nonetheless. At least he is not a sore loser. That would be bad¡­for me. Reaching the guild and completing a bunch of guild missions ¨C by handing the receptionist the magical plants of lower quality ¨C didn¡¯t take long, and it earned Percy a fair bit of money. Six silver coins, to be precise. That was more than expected since his biggest fortune was going to the bakery, where Percy went next. He entered Leonhard¡¯s bakery with a smile and retrieved the magical plants from his leather bag to spread them across his wooden counter. Leonhard, who completed a batch of bread in the shop''s backroom, returned to the shopping area. He froze in his tracks, clearly confused about what was happening. At some point, his eyes landed on Percy. He frowned first but eased up when he saw that Percy was perfectly fine. ¡°It looks like you¡­can survive the forest¡­¡± Leonhard mumbled, more to himself than Percy. ¡°I¡¯m doing okay,¡± Percy responded with a smile, ¡°What do you think?¡± The baker¡¯s expression lit up as he started inspecting the magical plants, but his expression soured upon realizing the massive quantity of goods spread over his counter. Is something wrong? ¡°This¡­Is amazing! But I don¡¯t have enough money¡­All of this should earn you more than a dozen silver. I have savings from my days as an Adventurer, but most of it went into treating an old injury and the shop. I¨C...¡± ¡°What are you talking about? I didn¡¯t come to you to take your savings. The plants are my way to thank you for your help and generosity!¡± Percy responded with a bright smile, but Leonhard¡¯s expression didn¡¯t improve. If anything, the baker¡¯s expression worsened. Does he not like it? Why? There is no reason to be displeased¡­right? Why does he look so uncomfortable? ¡°I cannot accept this. It¡¯s too much¡­¡± Percy looked at the baker, still not understanding what was going on. It took him nearly a minute of listening to the baker¡¯s murmurs and comments until the point came across somewhat. ¡°There is no need to pay me. You shouldn¡¯t feel bad about accepting the magical plants, either. That is my way of repaying your goodness!¡± He smiled vibrantly, but seeing the discomfort in the baker¡¯s eyes and features, Percy¡¯s smile cracked. That¡¯s not what I wanted. I didn¡¯t want him to feel uncomfortable. All I wanted was to see him continue experimenting. He looked so happy experimenting with these cookies and pastries¡­ If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Percy¡¯s lips parted, but they closed after a moment. Several minutes of silence passed before he couldn¡¯t take it anymore. ¡°Can¡¯t you just accept the magical plants? If you don¡¯t want them, consider them an investment for your experiments. Repay me with delicious pastries made from magical plants, then!¡± Leonhard¡¯s expression didn¡¯t improve right away. However, he looked at Percy for a while. The youth was visibly confused and starting to get flustered and angry. Remembering how angry he was at Percy for promising to enter the forest¡¯s depths to collect bags of magical plants to help him experiment, Leonhard¡¯s features softened. He might not have believed Percy¡¯s words back then, but the youth kept his word. A chuckle escaped his lips. ¡°I am a fool, ain¡¯t I?¡± He asked, but Percy didn¡¯t answer no matter how much he¡¯d loved to. Leonhard sighed. ¡°Okay. Let¡¯s do that. I can accept the ingredients, but you won¡¯t have to pay me for my goods again. You will be given a lifetime free pass for all my goods.¡± That wasn¡¯t what Percy wanted. ¡°Furthermore, you will stop bringing me more ingredients. These will keep me occupied much longer than you think. If you bring more, it will go to waste. I doubt you want me to throw away your precious gifts, right?¡± Percy nodded slowly, unable to refute. Leonhard was too stubborn and didn¡¯t want to see him angry again. Also, Percy didn¡¯t bring these little natural treasures to see them getting thrown away. ¡°Noted¡­No more ingredients.¡± ¡°That¡¯s my boy!¡± The baker said, ruffling through Percy¡¯s hair. It was odd, Percy felt warm and cozy even though his plan had failed. What happened just now? ** The next day, it was time to return to the little forest. Percy had several plans up to his sleeves, but his first task was to search the batch of Paresis Doom flowers. Finding and harvesting the dozen flowers he had left behind last time would be great. Thinking about the money he could earn, Percy spent the whole morning. He and the Gnoll used [A Hunter¡¯s Smell] but couldn¡¯t find the place. I don¡¯t remember entering the deeper parts of the forest. Then again, I had to run through the forest for quite a while when I rushed back. It was noon when Percy decided to change his target. Paresis Doom was still in his mind, but Percy didn¡¯t obsess over the flowers. There was no need to. Percy returned to one of the places the Gnoll discovered the day before. His bags were filled to the brim at that time, forcing him to return later before he could check it out. The time finally came. He was more than ready to fill his bags ¨C he¡¯d bought a few more leather bags ¨C to earn a fortune. Searching the place wasted two more hours, draining Percy¡¯s little patience, but frustration transformed into joy when he emerged in a massive hidden clearing. In the depths of the little forest, the large, breathtaking clearing was unveiled like a well¨Chidden treasury. Large, towering trees encircled it, their extensive branches forming a natural, protective barrier. Rays of sunlight filtered through the canopy, illuminating the lush green grass and multi-colored magical plants covering the clearing¡¯s grounds. The magical plants ¨C a shocking variety¨C were scattered across the clearing. There were magical plants of all colors, their vibrant hues creating a stunning mosaic. The clearing is alive. Percy swallowed hard, sensing the glow of mana shrouding the plants¡¯ leaves and petals. The air around him was heavy, shimmering like a heatwave with mana as it engulfed Percy and everything around him, as well as the clearing. It wasn¡¯t easy to calm down as the magnificent sight unfolded before Percy, even more so with so many magical plants everywhere around him. Blue flowers with petals like delicate glass released a substance that froze the surrounding plant life. Red, star-shaped blooms emitted a warm, ruby glow on the other side of the clearing, while clusters of small, yellow blossoms sparkled like tiny suns, casting a gentle, golden shimmer into the vicinity. But that was not all. It was only the beginning. Percy found plants with deep purple leaves, vines with glowing green tendrils that snaked along the ground climbed up the surrounding trees, and much more. Percy, [A Hunter¡¯s Smell] activated, took a deep breath, filling his nostrils with the soft scents of magical flora and a mix of earth and floral fragrances. Not as intrusive as I expected. That¡¯s nice. A vibrant smile blossomed on his lips as his mind registered the massive fortune he was about to amass, and he closed his eyes. Looting the clearing will take several days. Let¡¯s collect the most valuable things first. Percy focused on the scents via [A Hunter¡¯s Smell] and separated them in his mind. That took a while, but it was worthwhile. Once the first step was completed, Percy moved over to the second step seamlessly. Several hours passed in the blink of an eye, and it was evening before Percy realized. His bags weren¡¯t filled to the brim when he decided to return to Raewood ¨C staying overnight in the little forest was still not something Percy wanted to risk. Yet, at least. Still, the few treasures he¡¯d collected were the most valuable spread across the clearing! To think the smallest and most inconspicuous magical plants are the most valuable. If Erdwin hadn¡¯t told him about a bunch of exotic magical plants, Percy would have never noticed them. Fortunately, he listened intently to the old merchant. Percy didn¡¯t have to regret not selling the Gnoll Card anymore. If anything, keeping it was the best thing he could have done! The interfaces of the little treasures affirmed that. [Inviar Eclipse Mercurialis ¨C Excellent Quality ¨C 2953 Prosperity] [Inviar Eclipse Mercurialis ¨C Good Quality ¨C1891 Prosperity] ¡­ The leather bag swung across Percy¡¯s shoulder contained eight Inviar Eclipse Mercurialis. Their combined Prosperity exceeded 15,000, and Percy thought more than once about using [Consume] to empty the little clearing in a single day. But Percy was not in a rush. He remembered how much Erdwin would pay for the Inviar Eclipse Mercurialis and how valuable the Guild considered some of the other herbs and plants. Even the town¡¯s Alchemists and Pharmacists would pay a small fortune for some of the herbs he discovered in the clearing. Stay patient. We are not in a rush. Nobody has discovered the clearing until now; otherwise, it would have been plundered by now. Percy had to stay calm and composed to clear his little treasure trove in the next few days. B1 Chapter 31 - Prosperity Percy was fully occupied with the clearing for a long time. It took much longer than expected, but the youth couldn¡¯t care less. The wealth entering Percy¡¯s pocket increased smoothly with more time spent in the clearing. The days passed silently in a monotonous rhythm, and the Lesser Demon was forgotten. At least, Percy forgot the Archyeas and the fear it had spread throughout the town. He didn¡¯t even know that the creature was still alive, escaping from Grandmaster Lexter¡¯s bloody rapier. ¡°This will be the last batch,¡± Percy explained to Olivia, who retrieved six large leather bags filled to the brim with more than a hundred magical plants of high quality. ¡°That is what you have been telling me for the last two weeks, yet you came back with even more shocking natural treasures every single time,¡± Receptionist Tom, standing next to Olivia, snorted. ¡°This time it¡¯s true.¡± Tom shrugged, the glint in his eyes telling that he didn¡¯t believe him. Fortunately, Percy didn¡¯t mind whether Tom believed him or not. Starting tomorrow, I will return with monster carcasses! He snickered inwardly and left the Guildhall once Olivia prepared his money. She handed him 23 silver coins and told him to be careful. The receptionist was always like that. Percy liked the way she cared and worried about strangers and acquaintances. Olivia didn¡¯t have a reason to care for him as well as she did, but she did so nonetheless. That was her persona: A young, kind, and caring woman. Percy smiled on his way back to his little room in the Angel¡¯s Brew Inn. Not much changed about his little home ¨C that was how he found himself calling his little chamber in Bertha¡¯s Inn ¨C but his home was probably the only thing remaining. To be precise, many things stayed the same. Percy still had the same armaments. He also kept the Gnoll¡¯s Blade and decided against selling the iron dagger for now. The clearing, his daily training on the training ground, the negotiations with Erdwin, his chats with butcher Kevin, baker Leonhard, and Bertha, and studying and training both mana control and his understanding of the Gnoll Card and its Augmentation were the only things on his mind. His whole attention lingered on two particular tasks that pursued one purpose: Amassing wealth and training to grow stronger. The clearing is empty, and I am wealthy enough¡­Oh well, no. I was wealthy enough to experiment a little. A smile blossomed on his face as a series of memories resurfaced. The memories had one thing in common: they showed interfaces of some ¡®things¡¯ that happened in the last two weeks. [Gnoll Card¡¯s Potential -[Common ??] has been upgraded. 30,000 Prosperity have been consumed] [Your Tier increased by one rank] [Mana Conductivity and Resilience reached their limits. [Guard] is overflowing with Prosperity. [Guard] will be interwoven into the essence of the Tempered Vambrace(L)] [Mana Conductivity and Resilience reached their limits. [Guard] is overflowing with Prosperity. [Guard] will be interwoven into the essence of the Tempered Vambrace(R)] [Gnoll Blade¡¯s sharpness has been enhanced.] [Sharpness reached its limit. [Sharpness] is overflowing with Prosperity. [Sharpness] will be interwoven into the essence of the Gnoll¡¯s Blade.] [Your Tier increased by one rank] Watching his Tier increase by two ranks to Mortal-8 in two weeks was exciting. Funnily enough, Percy could soon apply for the promotion exam in the Guildhall. He was surprised to discover that he had already completed enough missions to apply for the Silver-rank promotion exam. Percy exceeded the threshold by a large margin since he¡¯d completed far more missions than required. He also completed the Adventurer Training, which most stopped after the Instructor went missing ¨C nobody expected him to return alive at this point. Thus, Percy could apply to be promoted to the Silver Rank and request an advancement mission if he wanted to. Percy would advance to a Silver-rank Adventurer as long as he passed the exam ¨C which consisted of a spar with a Silver-rank Adventurer and a theoretical part. But he waited. Most Silver Rank Adventurers were already at the Elite Tier. Percy wasn¡¯t that strong¡­yet. His growth was rapid. Too fast to be true. Therefore, Percy chose to wait a little before applying for the Silver-rank exam. In truth, Percy didn¡¯t feel ready for the practical part of the advancement exam. But that was not a problem. Percy wasn¡¯t in a rush to attract attention ¨C more than he did already ¨C and become the main target of even more Adventurers. It was no surprise when Olivia warned him about the greed and jealousy of other Adventurers. She seemed distressed that day, but Percy could only laugh inwardly. The receptionist meant well, but she didn¡¯t know about the Gnoll Card and how strong a Monster Card with [Common ???] Potential was. To be fair, even Percy was surprised at how much the Gnoll changed after the Card¡¯s potential was upgraded to three stars. The Gnoll Card¡¯s standard combat prowess was only 80% of the average Gnoll at two stars, but upon upgrading its Potential by one star, the Gnoll¡¯s combat prowess surpassed the average of an ordinary Gnoll. Olivia was also unaware of his Artifacts and what Tier he¡¯d reached in record time. If she had known, Olivia would have warned Percy nonetheless, but she wouldn¡¯t have been that worried for several days. Percy noticed some Adventurers following him the day after Olivia warned him, but he outwitted them. There was no need to face them head-on. Instead, Percy used the Gnoll Card and [A Hunter¡¯s Smell] to pinpoint their location and lure them to a small pack of Hill Hogs. If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Hill Hogs were loner, but that particular group was still together because their piglet had just been born. It was only a few days old and too young to defend itself. Therefore, the mother Hill Hog was even more protective than usual. The monster attacked the Adventurers pursuing Percy when they emerged from the thicket, searching for the Gnoll wielding a Blade Artifact. Instead, they found an enraged Hill Hog mother and were forced to fight it before proceeding. To their misfortune, they lost Percy¡¯s tracks. He was already in the clearing, where he¡¯d encountered only a few monsters. Oddly enough, no strong monster could be found in the mana-dense area, and he found out why only two days before the clearing had been emptied. Percy reached the end of the clearing, where he discovered a small, well-hidden cavern entrance. Percy found the remains of countless monsters and humans inside the cave. His first reaction was shock and fear. He was certain to have found the Lesser Demon¡¯s lair. Fortunately, that wasn¡¯t the case. The lair belonged to the Orcs ¨C or had belonged to them when they were still alive. Percy recalled the Archyeas tearing several Orcs apart. That was a while ago, but the monsters around still considered clearing the Orcs¡¯ territory. Only in the last days of Percy¡¯s constant herb hunting did monsters gather enough courage to enter the Orcs¡¯ territory again. That was surprising, but Percy was the last to complain. He had managed to take advantage of the Orcs¡¯ disappearance and the fear they¡¯d imprinted into the hearts of the forest¡¯s monsters. As a matter of fact, Merchant Erdwin was also overjoyed about this. Percy procured some of the magical plants he had been looking for. The Inviar Eclipse Mercurialis, for example, was one of the plants he¡¯d never expected to find so soon. He told Percy about his plan and how he had scheduled to stay in Raewood for two years if that was how much time he needed to find some low-quality Inviar Eclipse Mercurialis. Yet, Percy procured the best of the best in record time instead of low-quality magical plants. The merchant was overjoyed, and so was Percy since he received a big tip for his excellent service. The Guildhall, on the other hand, wasn¡¯t so happy with everything Percy procured from the clearing. They were overjoyed about the shower of magical plants and devastated about the Silver Guild Emblems he¡¯d retrieved from the human remains in the Orc cave. Olivia and others asked where he procured the Guild Emblems. He told them about the Orc cave and the remains he found in the cave but didn¡¯t budge an inch when they asked the young Adventurer to bring him to the cave. Percy initially denied their request to retrieve the skeletons and only gave in a little after hearing some of the dead Adventurers¡¯ stories. He promised to tell the staff about the Orc cave¡¯s whereabouts once he emptied the clearing. Contrary to Percy¡¯s expectations, the Guildhall didn¡¯t hire anyone to trail him when he went out the following day. The only Adventurers who pursued him were the same who¡¯d followed him for a few days already. It was a good thing that tricking them wasn¡¯t very difficult. At last, Percy reached his room. He removed his armor and changed into a cozy set of clothes before diving straight onto his bed. Percy was tired, but he summoned a few interfaces nonetheless. I should have enough now¡­right? ¡ºPercy ¡» [Ego ¨C Coin of Prosperity] [Tier] ¨C [Mortal-8] ¡ª [Gnoll(Common ¨C???) ¨C[A Hunter¡¯s Smell?]] ¡ºCoin of Prosperity¡» Prosperity: 29.550 ?Consume [2x Gold Coin ¨C Ordinary ¨C 22,000 Prosperity] [52x Silver Coins ¨C Ordinary ¨C 5,460 Prosperity] [649x Copper Coins ¨C Ordinary ¨C 649 Prosperity] He could instinctively tell how much his accumulated Prosperity could change. The impact tens of thousands of Prosperity had on his belongings was shockingly high. Still, surprisingly enough, neither [Blade Mastery??] nor [Minor Strength Boost?] could be unsealed with 29,500 Prosperity. Percy didn¡¯t understand why it had been so easy to unlock [A Hunter¡¯s Smell] or why both [Blade Mastery] and [Minor Strength Boost] were so expensive, yet he felt how close he was to unseal [Minor Strength Boost]. Percy predicted he would need 30,000 Prosperity to unseal it, but he was more curious about [Blade Mastery]. It was a two-star Augmentation, and his instincts told him that he had already accumulated more than half of the Prosperity required to unseal it. Thus, Percy did the only right thing. [2x Gold Coins have been consumed. 22,000 Prosperity has been added.] He didn¡¯t hold back and was mentally prepared to sacrifice everything needed to unseal the Gnoll Card¡¯s second Augmentation. Percy¡¯s heart thumped wildly as the two gold coins transformed into Prosperity. First, Percy felt a surge of power coursing through his Ego as his rank progressed closer to its peak. Second, he stared blankly at the Gnoll Card¡¯s interface, where he saw the [Blade Mastery??] tag glowing vividly. He had enough Prosperity to unseal it. All Percy had to do was invest it all. That was what he did without hesitation. [Gnoll Card¡¯s Augmentation [Blade Mastery ?? ] has been unsealed. 50,000 Prosperity have been consumed.] [Tier increased by one rank.] The surge of mana came first. It was large but not unexpected. Percy had been prepared for it and accepted it without hesitation. However, something else was entering him¡­something he could have expected but didn¡¯t. Information entered his mind. It flooded his entire being and changed something. Percy¡¯s old understanding of weaponry and combat was overwritten. Some knowledge, which turned out to be faulty, was discarded, replaced with knowledge of the blade and how to wield it. The Gnoll Card absorbed the surge of information as well and responded quickly. The Monster Card urged Percy to summon the Gnoll, which was what he did subconsciously. He didn¡¯t pay much attention as his mana was drained to summon the Gnoll or when the monster grasped the Gnoll¡¯s Blade to enter a combat stance. Interestingly enough, Percy also didn¡¯t notice how he moved to the iron dagger. His fingers curled around the iron dagger, and he also entered a somewhat familiar combat stance. It was the Gnoll¡¯s stance. Percy had never been in that stance before ¨C neither had the Gnoll ¨C but it felt oddly familiar and correct. It was almost like a superior power urged his entire being to move that way. Then he got started ¨C so did the Gnoll. B1 Chapter 32 - Under Attack Nobody taught Percy how to organize and digest foreign streams of information invading his brain, but it worked somehow. Percy¡¯s understanding of blades, a blade¡¯s trajectory, strengths, and weak points increased quickly. That was only the beginning. Even though Percy had been training a lot in the last few weeks, the old man was the only proper combat teacher he had. Greg taught him a lot, but Percy forgot many of the old man¡¯s teachings. At that time, he was a child and was more motivated by fooling around than following the old man¡¯s instructions. That came back biting him in the last few weeks. Death had been looming over Percy too often, and he regretted not listening better to the man who¡¯d raised him with painstaking effort. [Blade Mastery] solved some of his issues. It granted him a basic understanding of blade and bladed combat and stimulated his muscles. Percy and the Gnoll moved quickly through the small inn room. They clashed, the Gnoll Blade and Percy¡¯s iron dagger resounding as metal struck metal. Their movements were fast, but they accelerated further as the mana within them resonated with their movements. They twisted their bodies to evade the incoming slashes and strikes before responding with a counterattack. The muscles in Percy¡¯s legs constricted and seemed to breathe as they expanded as he kicked the ground. The wooden floor cracked and threatened to break apart, but Percy didn¡¯t notice. His full attention lingered on the unfamiliar movements his body executed with shocking precision. Even though Percy had known what a Mastery Augmentation was supposed to do to a Cardist, he was flabbergasted. Not only did it teach him how to wield a blade properly, but it aided his movements as well. Percy¡¯s movements were still far from perfection, but some of the habits and flaws other Adventurers had pointed out disappeared as he greedily devoured the foreign streams of information. The Gnoll improved a lot as well. To be precise, it improved even more than Percy. The Gnoll Card¡¯s prowess reached new heights. It could slay ordinary Gnolls without help now that it acquired [Blade Mastery]. He didn¡¯t know how much time had passed, but it couldn¡¯t have been more than a few minutes before someone knocked on the door. Percy didn¡¯t hear the knocking at first, but the familiar voice that followed was enough to pull him back to his senses. ¡°Percy? Is everything alright?¡± Bertha asked, slowly opening the creaking door to take a look inside. It was already late, and most guests would either be asleep or drinking downstairs. Yet, despite the cacophony in the dining room, Bertha heard the commotion from Percy¡¯s room and decided to check out what he was doing. The wooden floor was broken in multiple spots, the bed was messy, and the remains of a chair were spread throughout the room. Bertha¡¯s eyes narrowed at the desolate room¡¯s state, but a sigh of relief escaped her lips when she saw that Percy was fine. ¡°Sorry about that. I¡­¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s okay. I was just worried something happened,¡± Bertha waved her hand dismissively, but her eyes trailed to the Gnoll blade opposite Percy. She could see the [Sharpness] Enchantment on the Gnoll¡¯s Blade, but her expression didn¡¯t change. There was not even a twitch. Instead, she asked calmly, ¡°Did you start practicing with two blades?¡± Only now did Percy notice the Gnoll disappeared. He retrieved the Gnoll Blade and smiled gently at it, ¡°Something like that.¡± He turned, sheathed the blades, and retrieved a silver coin. ¡°I¡¯m sorry about the damage. Is one silver enough to fix it?¡± One silver coin should be more than enough, but Percy didn¡¯t want to throw a silver coin at her and act like a snotty brat. Destroying her room was already embarrassing enough. ¡°That¡¯s more than enough. One silver is enough to stay a whole week and pay for the damages.¡± ¡°Sounds like a good deal,¡± Percy responded with a smile. He handed her the silver coin and left the room with Bertha. Digesting the information streams from [Blade Mastery] had occupied his mind long enough to forget about his rank-ups and the aftermath of ranking up three times in quick succession. But now that the knowledge and mastery of the blade had been imprinted into his mind and muscles, Percy¡¯s stomach occupied him once again. It grumbled like Percy had starved himself for several weeks. Calm down, my friend. I have enough money to fill you dozens of times! He might have consumed two gold coins, but his fortune was more than that. Percy had 51 silver coins and enough copper coins to purchase food for several weeks! They reached the dining room, which Percy didn¡¯t leave until his stomach was filled to the brim two hours later. His pouch was 41 copper coins lighter, which would have stung if Percy was the same kid he used to be several weeks ago. But that wasn¡¯t the case. Satisfied with himself and the changes he¡¯d undergone in the last few hours, Percy dived into his bed, ignoring the broken planks and the like, and fell asleep. ** Percy and the Gnoll broke through the thicket with sharp movements. Their blades flicked through the air, drawing the blood of their bloodthirsty foe. A claw, severed from a fierce slash, hurled through the air, drawing the monster¡¯s attention to the Gnoll while Percy¡¯s mana-infused blade cut deep into the monster¡¯s neck. The monster screeched in pain and tried clawing Percy but couldn¡¯t reach him. Percy was too agile. He twisted the iron dagger in the monster¡¯s neck and ripped it out while backing up. The Gnoll appeared behind its kin and cut downward, cleaving the enemy Gnoll¡¯s shoulder smoothly. The monster shrieked once as the enchanted Gnoll Blade cut it and collapsed lifelessly to the ground. A puddle of blood formed quickly around the corpse, but Percy paid little attention. He used [Consume] on the dead Gnoll, devouring its body and equipment. [Goods worth 853 Prosperity have been consumed.] This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. ¡°Not too bad,¡± Percy nodded, his head flicking to the Gnoll, ¡°Or what do you think, Hyean?¡± The Gnoll, creatively named Hyean for being a humanoid Hyena, didn¡¯t respond. However, it looked at him as if expecting something. ¡°I¡¯m not going to upgrade your Potential again anytime soon. We¡¯re saving for something else. Did you forget that already?¡± Percy asked but scoffed inwardly. I am talking to my Monster Card. Am I this socially awkward? He chuckled but tensed up and changed into a combat stance when the bushes opposite him rustled. It hadn¡¯t even been two days since [Blade Mastery] was added to the Gnoll Card¡¯s Augmentations, but a lot had changed. First, Percy had gotten used to his acquired power after his Tier reached Mortal-9. Second, he and the Gnoll experimented extensively with [Blade Mastery]. It was a passive Augmentation that instantly boosted the Cardist and Card¡¯s understanding of blades and bladed combat. However, there was more to it. Blade Mastery stimulated comprehension and growth with blades. Going out to hunt for several hours for the last two days showed that clearly. The stimulation of [Blade Mastery] wasn¡¯t extraordinary, but it was noteworthy. Both Percy and Hyean improved decently. However, their improvements were also how they went deeper into the forest than intended. They encountered several Gnolls but managed to avoid their packs and larger groups. But that didn¡¯t mean Gnoll packs couldn¡¯t find them. Fighting a pack of Gnolls was not planned for today, but I¡¯m fine with tha¨C... Oh. Nevermind. There are no Gnolls. Percy clicked his tongue in frustration. What awaited him in the bushes was much worse than a small pack of Gnolls. ¡°You can come out. There is no need to hide any longer.¡± Nothing happened for a few seconds. Silence remained after his words resounded through the vicinity until a grayish flash burst through the bushes. An arrow whizzed through the air and would have struck the Hyean if they weren¡¯t prepared for an attack. The Gnoll lifted its blade and blocked the attack. Percy didn¡¯t divert his attention from the bushes and circulated mana through his body. He nibbled nervously on his lower lip and tensed up when a small group of familiar faces emerged from the bushes. Three men and a middle-aged woman stepped out of the thicket. The woman grasped a bow tightly in her hand and aimed at the Gnoll, ready to shoot Hyean again at any moment. ¡°Don¡¯t be mistaken. The first shot was merely a warning. The second will kill your little toy.¡± One of the three men said. He wielded a large broadsword, an Artifact of some sort, and smiled calmly at Percy. His physique wasn¡¯t extraordinary among Adventurers, but he was tall and strong enough to swing his massive sword casually through the air. The two men behind the leader wielded a set of daggers and a shortsword. One of the daggers was also an Artifact, but that was already it. ¡°Was it really necessary to cling onto me like that?¡± Percy scrunched his nose in displeasure. The leader and the archer woman were the pair who¡¯d been pursuing him for over a week. Their tracking skills weren¡¯t great, and it was rather easy to trick them. These new guys must have tracked us. Do I know them from somewhere? I don¡¯t think so¡­ Are they Bronze Rank Adventurers then? But does that change anything? Niko and Lea are Silver Rank Adventurers. Niko was the leader of the group, and Lea was their archer. Both were veterans and acquired the Silver Guild Emblem before the Adventurer training was added to the exam requirements. They don¡¯t look like they¡¯re out hunting a lot. Their tracking skills are lackluster, and they¡¯re not good at hiding. Are they rusty and trying to make a quick buck? Niko frowned deeply at the unmoving Gnoll. Hyean didn¡¯t pay much attention to the Adventurer and focused on the archer instead. It snarled at Lea and would have pounced forward if Percy wasn¡¯t restraining it mentally. ¡°So the Gnoll we¡¯ve seen multiple times in the last few days was yours. No wonder we lost your tracks,¡± Niko said matter-of-factly. The Bronze Adventurers inspected the Gnoll Blade with unmeasurable greed glimmering in their eyes. ¡°It has an Artifact,¡± One of them murmured. ¡°No wonder he grew stronger so quickly. Tom has been telling everyone how lucky Raewood is for finding a treasure with a combat gift alignment, but it was your Gnoll Card doing all the work all along!¡± Lea¡¯s eyes narrowed as Hyean¡¯s blade flicked smoothly in its hands. ¡°Stay on guard, idiot. It¡¯s a special Monster Card,¡± She looked at Percy, ¡°Or am I wrong?¡± Percy didn¡¯t respond, but his answer wouldn¡¯t have changed much, either way. Niko and his group eyed Hyean in greed. Both the Gnoll Blade Artifact and the Monster Card were worth a fortune. ¡°If you hand over the Monster Card and your Artifacts, we might leave you alive,¡± Niko declared, his eyes glimmering dangerously, ¡°...And we might keep your little secret.¡± They saw me use my Ego! Percy¡¯s eyes widened, and his mind wavered. Under normal circumstances, that wouldn¡¯t have been bad, but the situation was much worse than what it looked like. Percy was more proficient with bloodlust after being around Hyean and fighting a few Gnolls. He knew what bloodlust felt like, but he had never sensed so much bloodlust from humans. They¡¯re not planning to leave me alive¡­They¡¯re¡­.going to kill me¡­ The realization hit Percy much harder than expected, creating an opening for Hyean. The Gnoll¡¯s wild instincts suppressed Percy¡¯s authority in a moment of weakness, and the monster shot forward. The four Adventurers didn¡¯t expect Percy to attack them so decisively. Their scheme never failed to push rookie Adventurers to the edge. Rookie Adventurers weren¡¯t mentally prepared for possible fights with fellow humans, let alone the chance to be forced into fighting them to death. That didn¡¯t seem to hold Percy from sending the Gnoll at them. Lea¡¯s eyes narrowed to tiny slits. Something about the picture unfolding before her seemed wrong, and she cast a short glance at Percy, who had yet to move from his spot. In a quarter of a second, she considered shooting Percy and killing him to claim his Monster Card, but the Gnoll was already too close. She made her decision ¨C not without forgetting to curse in her mind ¨C and released the arrow. But because the Gnoll was already too close, Lea didn¡¯t manage to channel enough mana into both arrow and bow to unleash their full potential. The arrow headed for Hyean¡¯s head, but the Gnoll had lowered its body until its hyena-like head was about to touch the ground. It looked more like a Hyena than a Gnoll as bloodthirst ¨C which Percy had subconsciously suppressed to focus on their seamless teamwork as a Cardist-Card duo ¨C filled its entire being. The arrow hit the Gnoll but pierced its ear instead of its skull. Hyean, in its thirst, didn¡¯t feel anything. It appeared before Lea and struck her with full power. Lea stepped back, and Niko reappeared in her place, taking the brunt of the attack. The Gnoll Blade collided with the broadsword, which swung through the air immediately after the Gnoll¡¯s attack was blocked. Niko¡¯s strength and speed were superior to the Gnoll. It was no problem to block the incoming attack and use the remaining momentum to raise his broadsword high overhead and slash down. The broadsword hummed dangerously as it cleaved down, forcing Hyean to dive to the side when imminent death engulfed it. But instead of cleaving the Gnoll into two, the massive blade slowed down suddenly as it descended. It missed the target and dug into the ground, where it remained momentarily as Niko¡¯s eyes trailed the Gnoll. The corner of his lips curled upward as the Bronze Rank Adventurers followed his example, injuring the Gnoll before it could get up rather than landing a killing blow. They¡¯re planning to kill me but are still torn between killing Hyean or not?! Greedy bastards! B1 Chapter 33 - Out of Control The Bronze Adventurers could have dealt a death blow to Hyean when the Gnoll escaped Niko¡¯s sword with a dive to the side. Their blades glimmered dangerously but didn¡¯t cut too deep into the Gnoll. They didn¡¯t want to kill the summoned monster under any circumstances. Niko could have killed the Gnoll as well, but his broadsword slowed down and created an opportunity for the summoned monster. The idea of earning a big handful of gold coins from selling the special Gnoll Card was too enticing to ignore. Greed and their wild imaginations, showing the four Adventurers living in luxury for years from today¡¯s hunt, overwhelmed their bloodlust. Their greed was the only reason Hyean was still alive¡­and why Percy perceived an opportunity to survive. Hyean growled and slashed the closest Bronze Adventurer with full might. The Adventurer blocked the blow but realized too late that the monster twisted the Gnoll Blade in its claw to push his shortsword aside. Hyean¡¯s empty claw shot forward and pierced the Adventurer¡¯s neck. A surprised squeal escaped the Adventurer¡¯s lips. The Gnoll had been more proficient at wielding its blade than expected. But that alone wouldn¡¯t have been enough to deal the killing blow. Hyean pushed forward, faster than the average Gnoll, and struck him before he managed to move aside. Hyean ripped his claw from its victim and twisted its body until cracking noises sounded. The other Bronze Adventurer¡¯s enchanted dagger swept past the Gnoll¡¯s chest and missed the monster by a hair¡¯s breadth. The Gnoll spun around its axis and executed a fierce attack with the Gnoll Blade¡¯s pommel. The Adventurer blocked the attack, but his eyes widened in surprise and terror. Even Lea, who¡¯d seen what happened from the corner of her eyes, stared at the scene unfolding before her in terror. ¡°A Blade Master?¡± She blurted out, pulling the bowstring back to shoot the Gnoll. Her drive to survive was greater than the idea of earning a fortune. Money was only valuable if you were alive! Lea tried shooting Hyean, but the Bronze Adventurer and Niko¡¯s bodies blocked her trajectory. ¡°Shoot the Cardist, you fucking idiot!¡± Niko snarled when he noticed what was going on. The Gnoll Card was definitely special. It must have a unique Augmentation, and Niko wanted it! He turned, ready to squash Percy and rip the Gnoll Card out of his chest, when something changed. His heart palpated wildly in his tightening chest. The temperature dropped by several degrees and Percy¡¯s expression contorted in unbearable pain. He paled, his eyes lingering on the body of the Adventurer his summoned monster had slain mercilessly. ¡°Careful!¡± Lea screamed all of a sudden. Niko¡¯s eyes widened in surprise, and he instinctively pulled back, but not because of his lover¡¯s warning. His entire being screamed at him, telling him to retreat and run as long as possible. A moment later, a cloud of darkness shot out of Percy¡¯s hand. The darkness expanded rapidly and formed several rows of razor-sharp teeth. Niko and Lea shuddered involuntarily and pulled back. They changed into a defensive stance and prepared for a fierce battle with a powerful monster. Whatever it was that oozed out of Percy¡­it was dangerous. The Silver Rank Adventurers had been through a fair share of deadly battles, but the atmosphere was heavier than ever. Was that how some monsters perceived imminent death? Percy¡¯s mind rattled wildly. He was still shocked at how easily Hyean killed the Bronze Adventurer and about the summoned Monster¡¯s absolute lack of hesitation when the devilish grimace of his Ego manifested before his eyes. Percy didn¡¯t know if the others could see his Ego, but that didn¡¯t matter to him. All he could see was the grotesque grimace and how the corners of its lips tugged upward. The devious smile widened, and [Consume] activated. His hands cracked again like the first time he¡¯d used [Consume], but it hurt this time. His Ego had activated itself without Percy¡¯s permission, after all. You¡¯re not going to do that¡­right?! Percy screamed in his mind as the familiar abomination of darkness and rows of razor-sharp teeth burst out of his palm. His eyes traveled back to the dead body, which turned out to be the abomination¡¯s target¡­just like Percy had feared. The abomination shot through the air and smashed heavily into the ground near the Gnoll and the other Bronze Adventurer. The Adventurer flinched when the dark mass shot past him and lifted his daggers to increase his guard against an attack. However, the dark mass never paid any attention to him. But Hyean did. It wasn¡¯t affected by the abomination, knowing it belonged to its master, and grasped the opening. The Gnoll Blade glimmered as the monster infused enough mana into [Sharpness] to activate the enchantment and attack. While the Bronze Adventurer suffered a heavy blow from his psyche, followed by several rapid and powerful slashes, the abomination swallowed the dead Adventurer and his equipment at once. [Robert Miller (Mortal-8) and goods have been consumed. 3,814 Prosperity has been added.] Percy tried using his willpower to block his Ego. He¡¯d been using it often enough to know how to control it precisely. Yet, the Coin of Prosperity didn¡¯t listen to it. [Consume] devoured the Bronze Adventurer whole, disobeying Percy¡¯s order without care. Fuck! Listen to me!!! Percy struggled to digest everything happening in the last few seconds. He was forced into a fight with fellow humans and killed one ¨C even if it was through his Monster Card. As if that wasn¡¯t enough, the devilish grimace of his Ego manifested before his eyes, snickering and smiling mockingly at him as [Consume] disobeyed him. But it was not yet over. A fountain of blood spurted through the air, and the other Bronze Adventurer collapsed to the ground. The Gnoll Blade, [Sharpness] still active, stuck in his chest. An interface popped up, and the abomination leaped at it. Percy tried restraining the abomination, fear filling his heart as he lost control of his Ego. What is happening?? Niko appeared next to the dark mass of the abomination, his broadsword whizzing through the air. It cut through the abomination, which burst through the Silver Adventurer. Simultaneously, Lea released an arrow, but not at Hyean. She aimed at the source of the dark mass. Killing him should solve all of their problems. One arrow was all it would take. You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author. Percy was filled with fear at the unknown changes, yet he never stopped circulating mana through his body. He lifted one arm quickly and channeled enough mana into [Guard] to activate the runic enchantment. A semi-translucent shield manifested around his left forearm guard, blocking Lea¡¯s arrow. The enchantment caught the arrow mid-air before and stopped it before shattering like glass. Lea cursed under her breath and retrieved another arrow from her quiver. She nocked the arrow quickly and pulled the bowstring back in a smooth motion. But before she could aim at Percy, Lea saw a sudden movement from the corner of her eyes. Niko was still shrouded by the dark, unknown mass, but the summoned Gnoll had already moved ahead. It charged quickly at her, leaving the Silver Rank Adventurer no choice but to attack the Gnoll. Niko burst through the dark mass of [Consume] as Lea spun around to kill the Gnoll. ¡°If you kill it, I will skin you alive, bitch!¡± He bellowed in a fit of rage. Lea twitched at her lover¡¯s sudden outburst and released the arrow a moment too early. The arrow blurred before their eyes and created a resounding fleshly sound as it dug deep into the Gnoll¡¯s chest. The monster snarled in pain, but it didn¡¯t go down. It wasn¡¯t dead. However, Lea¡¯s situation didn¡¯t look that good. Percy didn¡¯t stay idle after blocking the archer¡¯s attack. He didn¡¯t even stop as his Ego informed him about the successful consumption of the other Bronze Adventurer. Percy grasped the iron dagger tightly enough to see the white of his knuckles as he charged the Silver Rank Adventurer. He winced when Hyean was hit but knew instinctively that the Gnoll wasn¡¯t in mortal danger. Percy arrived before Lea, mana churning through the iron dagger as she retrieved another arrow. Her head flicked to Percy, who appeared next to her, and her eyes widened in terror and fear. Lea didn¡¯t want to die. She had so much she wanted to do. A flicker of hesitation passed through Percy as he lifted the iron dagger to prepare for a killing blow. Should I¨C....She tried to kill me! I don¡¯t want to die!! The hesitation dispersed for a moment, and steely determination replaced it. Percy thrust the mana-infused blade deep into the Silver Rank Adventurer¡¯s heart. The Adventurer¡¯s eyes bulged at the sudden pain. She¡¯d just lifted her bow to block Percy¡¯s blade with its frame, but he¡¯d slithered around the frame and found a clear path to her chest, piercing through it in one go. Lea¡¯s lips parted, but no words escaped her mouth. Tears well in her eyes, but the glimmer in them dispersed. The vigor keeping her alive disappeared. Her legs caved in, and she collapsed to the ground, her empty eyes staring ahead in shock and regret. They should have never attacked Percy. Before Percy could react, an interface popped up. [Lea Elise - Elite-1 Gifted ¨C 15,000 Prosperity] This time, [Consume] reacted even faster than before. It retracted faster than anyone present could see and vanished into thin air. One moment, the abomination was no more, revealing the tiny clearing in its beauty, and in the next moment, a massive maw of teeth and darkness engulfed the dead woman. [Lea Elise (Elite-1) and goods have been consumed. 21,359 Prosperity has been added.] [Sven Tark (Mortal-9) and goods have been consumed. 7995 Prosperity has been added.] The massive mouth disappeared when the new interfaces popped up, but the darkness remained. It lingered around Percy as if waiting for something. But all Percy did was shiver as the Adventurer¡¯s warm blood trickled onto his hand. He was trembling but stared blankly at the blood-soaked blade. What have I done? Percy was fully aware of his actions, and he knew better than anyone that he would have died if he didn¡¯t kill Lea. Any of the four Adventurers would have killed him. Their bloodlust ensured Percy was aware of their true intentions. Still, killing a monster and mercilessly murdering fellow humans was different. Monsters and humans were both living beings but Percy¡¯s heart pained at the sight of the dying woman. Percy¡¯s emotions threatened to consume him. He stopped moving, his feet rooted to the ground, and Percy didn¡¯t even realize that he¡¯d stopped breathing as well. His eyes were wet, and his body didn¡¯t want to stop trembling. He was too occupied with himself and what had just happened to him to notice the darkness swirling around him, shrouding Percy slowly. It was already too late when he realized that something was off. Darkness swallowed him. So cold¡­ Percy shuddered. Every inch of his body was frozen solid, or that was what it felt like. Am I going to die? Fear occupied him. His Ego had been acting weird since the first Adventurer died. However, this was¡­different. It wasn¡¯t related to the death of the Adventurers. The Ego didn¡¯t shroud him in darkness to consume him like the dead Adventurers. It didn¡¯t behave like that because of the dead Adventurers either. Something was different. Only a second passed, maybe less, but it felt like an eternity. The darkness dispersed, leaving behind a small interface with no explanation. [10,000 Prosperity has been consumed.] Percy was still confused, but something changed drastically. He wasn¡¯t afraid anymore. His mind was void of any doubts and worries, and his body felt refreshed. Not a single trace of the last two arduous days of hunting had remained. Even his mana was fully replenished. But that was not all his Ego did by engulfing him in darkness. There was also something spreading through his body. It empowered him¡­or did he just imagine that? Percy stirred his mana with a mental command and walked forward, his eyes flicking to his last enemy as he activated [Reinforce] of his chestplate. The presence around the young Cardist intensified, but Percy hardly noticed anything. He continued infusing enough mana to manifest [Guard] shields at will. The Gnoll trembled in what seemed like a mixture of wrath and excitement while staring at its master. It grasped the arrow shaft protruding from its chest and tore it out in a smooth motion. Warm blood spurted from the wound in its chest, but the ferocious creature paid more attention to its nemesis. The Silver Rank Adventurer grit his teeth tightly. What happened? How could a simple assault on a Bronze Adventurer escalate like this? He shuddered as the scenes of the last minute replayed before his eyes and swallowed hard when the azure blue eyes of the rookie Adventurer threatened to swallow him whole. The youth¡¯s eyes, which had been filled with fear and desperation mere minutes ago, were no more. Ice-cold calculations and an overbearing calmness were all that remained in Percy¡¯s eyes. His Ego devoured everything else. B1 Chapter 34 - Elite Niko regretted everything. From following that naive-looking rookie, thinking he would be easy prey to attacking the rookie even after they¡¯d seen him kill a Gnoll before devouring it. At that time, the darkness consuming the monster carcass didn¡¯t feel dangerous or eerie. Now Niko knew better. But it was already too late. They ¨C No. He ¨C had been too greedy. His lover was dead, devoured by the abomination under the rookie¡¯s control, and his comrades had faced the same fate. Though he cared little about the latter, losing his lover was painful. Niko roared at the top of his lungs and charged at Percy, his broadsword resonating as its runic enchantment triggered. The large blade hummed when Niko brandished it, cleaving the mighty Artifact down to kill the root of all his problems. Percy watched the Adventurer closely and stepped to the side. He evaded the first attack by a hair¡¯s breadth while the Gnoll attacked the Adventurer¡¯s back. Niko sensed the danger in his back and swung around. His momentum was lacking, but the force of a Silver Rank Adventurer was still strong enough to kick the Gnoll in its chest. Blood sputtered out of Hyean¡¯s wound in the chest, and his ribs cracked at the impact. The summoned monster was hurled back and crashed against a nearby tree. Niko might be alone, but he was naturally stronger than Percy and the Gnoll as a Silver Rank Adventurer. He was filled with fury, and his Artifacts¡¯ enchantments were active, further boosting his power and agility. Percy tried studying the situation calmly, but the result was unpleasant no matter how he looked at it. Niko overwhelmed Percy with speed and power. He spun around, sweeping his broadsword horizontally to get rid of Percy once and for all. But contrary to Niko¡¯s expectations, Percy didn¡¯t throw himself to the ground or jump back in a hurry to evade the attack. Percy braced his body and mind for the impact instead. Only at this moment Niko saw the lifted corners of Pecy¡¯s lips and his bulging muscles. His broadsword didn¡¯t even cut into the rookie¡¯s flesh, yet Percy groaned in pain. [Gnoll Card¡¯s Augmentation -[Minor Strength Boost?] has been unsealed. 30,000 Prosperity have been] Percy didn¡¯t know what would happen when he unlocked [Minor Strength Boost] or how effective the Augmentation was, but it was obvious that he and Hyean needed a power-up. Niko had the highest Tier among the four Adventurers and held onto most Artifacts. [Blade Mastery] was powerful, but it wasn¡¯t enough to overpower someone like Niko, no matter how rusty the veteran Adventurer had become. He unlocked the Gnoll Card¡¯s third and final Augmentation when Niko charged first but sensed the Augmentation¡¯s effect only after the Adventurer kicked Hyean in the chest. Both Cardist and Monster Card sensed the surge in power. The power surge arrived at the perfect moment. A quarter of a second later, Percy would have suffered greatly. His mana stirred at his command while his muscles bulged and twitched wildly. The [Reinforce] enchantment of his chestplate was already active, ready to take Niko¡¯s blow, but that wasn¡¯t enough. Percy spread [Reinforce]¡¯s effect across his forearm guards, draining his mana rapidly before he activated [Guard] on both forearm guards. Maybe it was [Reinforce], but it could have been something else. One way or another, the [Guard] shields surrounding his forearm guards were thicker and less translucent than they used to be. They manifested instantaneously, coating his forearm guards tightly an instant before the massive broadsword smashed heavily into them. A thunderous sound reverberated through the vicinity at the moment of impact, and Percy was certain something in his hands had broken. The first [Guard] shield shattered immediately. It was cut neatly and shattered, releasing the enchantment¡¯s mana in all directions. That affected the weapon¡¯s momentum, slowing the attack considerably. The second shield didn¡¯t shatter instantaneously. It absorbed the broadsword¡¯s remaining momentum before it also dispersed. Niko was surprised about the events but reacted quickly when he saw Percy¡¯s pain-distorted expression. His hand shot forward, ready to squash Percy like a puny ant, when a third small [Guard] shield manifested. Percy¡¯s remaining mana had entered the [Guard] enchantment right after the first [Guard] shield broke. Ignoring the pain, Percy lifted his arm as Niko¡¯s massive paw reached him. The [Guard] shield manifested again, blocking the Silver rank Adventurer¡¯s follow-up attack. Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. The Adventurer¡¯s eyes widened again, and he reacted a quarter of a second too late when Percy¡¯s other hand whizzed upward. Both arms hurt, and Percy was certain something was broken, but the adrenaline coursing through him aided the youth. The iron dagger flickered once, and a stream of blood spurted through the surroundings like a fountain. Niko managed to pull back just a little, but it wasn¡¯t enough to evade the incoming attack. His broadsword was too heavy to make sudden movements after his first two attacks used his entire momentum. The iron dagger sliced across his wrist, cutting deep into it. Niko squinted his eyes in pain but smoothly switched the weapon to his left arm. His wrist was useless, but that didn¡¯t mean he was dead. As a full-fledged Adventurer, Niko could wield his weapon in both hands. However, what he couldn¡¯t do as an ordinary Adventurer, a man filled with rage and pain, fully focused on the enemy ahead? He couldn¡¯t comprehend that he¡¯d fallen victim to Percy¡¯s plan, the plan of a Cardist. Mana coursed through Niko, and his armor and broadsword hummed peacefully as mana filled the Artifacts, but it was already too late. Niko had forgotten about the summoned monster in his fury. Percy was the only target in his view and mind. The summoned monster was never his primary target. Out of sight, out of mind. It was a simple tactic but exactly what Percy had hoped for. Niko didn¡¯t seem stupid, but emotions got the better of him. He wasn¡¯t particularly talented in combat, spatial awareness, and other important combat-related aspects if he had never managed to leave Raewood. Not if he stayed in the town for years after his promotion to a Silver Rank Adventurer. Hyean appeared behind Niko as he stepped back to evade Percy¡¯s dagger. The Gnoll Blade, [Sharpness] activated, sliced through the air in a beautiful arc, and Niko¡¯s head slid down from his neck smoothly. The Adventurer¡¯s head landed on the ground with a resounding thud, and the rest of his body followed a moment later. [Niko Glenn ¨C Elite-2 Gifted ¨C 20,000 Prosperity] It was over. Niko was dead. His arms felt like he¡¯d been allowing bulls to charge at him before he hurled them around, only to repeat the same process several times. But even so, Percy didn¡¯t lower his guard. The battle had been loud, and Percy was certain monsters would find them soon. In the worst case, the Archyeas would come this way. They hadn¡¯t heard much about the Lesser Demon in the last few days, but that didn¡¯t mean it wasn¡¯t present anymore. [Consume] triggered without his doing again, but Percy didn¡¯t even try stopping it anymore. It was helpless either way. The abomination of darkness burst out of his palm and devoured Niko Glenn alongside his Artifacts in one go. [Niko Glenn (Elite-2) and goods have been consumed. 43,533 Prosperity has been added.] You didn¡¯t have to take the Artifacts, you know? But maybe that was for the best. The fewer things I have to hide, the better. Consuming the fourth Adventurer pushed Percy closer to his next Tier uprank. I¡¯m injured and still in the middle of the forest. My mana reserves are empty as well. There was no excuse for being stingy in a situation like this. Hyean was injured, and its condition was worsening. Thus, Percy retrieved the Gnoll back into the Monster Card, where it could recuperate slowly. He was left alone, could barely move his arms now that the adrenaline coursing through his body dispersed, and he couldn¡¯t even use his mana to activate his Artifacts to defend his life. My savings¡­ Percy triggered [Consume] and consumed the coins in one of his full coin pouches. [50 Silver Coins have been consumed. 5,250 Prosperity has been added.] His progression to the next Tier increased gradually, but Percy had no time to waste. He used [Consume] on Prosperity, and several aspects of his interface lit up. Some didn¡¯t react, but a bunch glowed dimly while others glowed brightly. Percy used his Ego to upgrade his Tier. [50,000 Prosperity has been consumed.] [Your Tier increased by one rank.] [Your Tier increased to Elite. Additional Monster Card Slot has been unlocked.] [Your attunement to the Coin of Prosperity increased. Your understanding increases.] The last message was unexpected. However, Percy didn¡¯t expect a sudden nausea either, or his sight blurring all of a sudden. His legs caved in suddenly, and he vomited on the ground, tears trickling down his cheeks. A moment later, a stream of mana flushed the youth. B1 Chapter 35 - Knights That was weird. Percy¡¯s expression distorted in pain as he got up. He turned in all directions, his lips tightly pressed together. The bodies of the four Adventurers were no more. Not even their blood remained. Something like that was bound to happen¡­was there a way to prevent that? They wanted to kill me¡­I had to give my all to survive. Percy had been avoiding the Adventurers since they started pursuing him. He¡¯d given his utmost to avoid a fight, but it had been useless. Despite giving his all, Percy expected to feel disgusted about his actions. After all, he and Hyean had just killed four humans. But why don¡¯t I feel like that? It¡¯s almost like my emotions are dulled¡­as if something restrains them. It was hard for the youth to find the right words to explain how his perception of emotions had changed in the fight against the Adventurers. He was only certain about one thing: Everything changed when the darkness swallowed him. Maybe the changes had been for the best. They might be the sole reason Percy managed to keep his cool against Niko. But why did my Ego not listen to me? [Consume] is difficult to use precisely, but something like that never happened. Even if I hadn¡¯t been distressed, [Consume] would have devoured their bodies. Some things didn¡¯t work as intended, and Percy was still not fine with a few things happening to him, but he had to acknowledge that he had learned a lot today. First things first, Percy learned how dangerous humans could be. The four Adventurers were ordinary Gifted Ones without many Artifacts and did not have a single Monster Card or Ego. If Percy had to guess, he would also say both Silver Rank Adventurers hadn¡¯t been out hunting anything stronger than a Hill Hog or a lone Gnoll for years. Still, despite their rusty skills as ordinary Gifted Ones, Percy would have died if the Adventurers hadn¡¯t been too greedy for their good. Not all humans were dangerous, but enough of them had to be watched vigilantly. If the Guild had known about my Ego, my current Tier, the Gnoll Card¡¯s Augmentations, and all of my Artifacts, Niko and his people wouldn¡¯t have attacked me frontally. They would have assassinated me, eliminating me with one precise dagger slash or empowered arrow hit. I only survived because they underestimated me and their greed. The more Percy thought about it, the more he realized how close he had been to death. His left forearm guard was almost cut in half. It barely clung onto a few threads and leather chunks. The runic enchantment had been cut, rendering the Artifact useless. That was a shame, but it was probably also why Percy was still alive. The mana infused into [Guard] had been unleashed at once, slowing the broadsword Artifact when it threatened to sever his arms. Percy removed the broken Artifact and used [Consume] on it, increasing his Prosperity by 23 points. He winced at the number but had to accept it nonetheless. Even if nobody could tell Percy had killed Niko, some might get suspicious of him if someone saw the slash in his forearm guard. Percy didn¡¯t want to take the risk. The reminder that he¡¯d killed four humans was related to the second crucial fact he¡¯d learned today. Percy realized he didn¡¯t have full control of his Ego. It would devour the bodies of the humans he¡¯d slain no matter how he tried to resist the Ego¡¯s urge. But that was not all. Humans¡­were also more valuable to his Ego than monsters, Artifacts, and plants. Consuming them accelerated his Tier progression. The Ego consumed everything related to the dead Adventurers, leaving not even their blood or a single hair behind. Percy returned to Raewood, unsure how to feel or what to think. His arms hurt, but he didn¡¯t visit the Alchemist or Erdwin¡¯s shop to purchase a potion. He moved straight to his room, where he was left alone with the myriad of dark thoughts tormenting his mind. His emotions remained dull and restrained for several days, but they returned eventually. However, Percy had already digested what happened to him after thinking about everything that had happened in the last few weeks. The only time Percy left his room in the Angel¡¯s Brew Inn was to eat his fill in the dining room. The rest of the days he spent training his mana control, thinking about what had happened and what he could have done differently, but also mending his wounds. He didn¡¯t have a Healing Augmentation, but [Minor Strength Boost] did an unfathomable job keeping his bones where they should be. The mana coursing through his arms, accelerating his natural regeneration, helped him recuperate quickly. His arms still ached, but Percy felt better now, both mentally and physically. Percy waged his options and concluded that Niko and his cronies had it coming. Maybe Percy could have tried fleeing, but Niko was an Elite-2 Gifted, and Lea carried a bow. One of the two would have struck him if he¡¯d tried fleeing. At the end of the day, they tried killing him for the Gnoll Card, but Percy returned the offer. I don¡¯t want to kill anymore humans¡­but I will have to if someone tries to do that again. He disliked the idea of killing humans, but that didn¡¯t mean others could do to him whatever they wanted to. Percy was tired of running away from his problems. He was ready to face them head-on. Percy was strong enough. He had to be! Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. ** Another week passed quickly, and the atmosphere in the little town changed drastically. The Archyeas returned to the little forest and more Adventures went missing. Among the missing Adventurers were not only the group of four Percy had killed but also other Adventurers. This time, more Bronze Rank Adventurers had been attacked. The Guildhall in Raewood was in distress. Their members were getting killed left and right, but they couldn¡¯t do anything about it. Guildmaster Lexter couldn¡¯t find the Archyeas. It was almost like the Lesser Demon vanished into thin air whenever the Guildmaster approached its location. Olivia said the Guildmaster was too strong, and the Archyeas could sense his approach due to its superior sensitivity toward strong magic, but the residents¡¯ opinions shifted slowly. They had a different opinion and said that the Guildmaster¡¯s actions were lackluster and that he wasn¡¯t doing enough. Raewood¡¯s residents were afraid and searched for a scapegoat. The Guildmaster, who could be heard cursing whenever a new death report reached him, blamed his incompetence for every death. He was the perfect target for the townspeople¡¯s fear and rage. Percy stopped the self-isolation, purchased a decent healing potion with the rest of his little money, and improved the potion using Prosperity. He had been too busy creating Artifacts and thinking about improving the Gnoll Card to think about other ways to use his Ego. He could enhance the magical properties of potions and add a dormant effect, which the Alchemist didn¡¯t manage to discover or trigger in the concoction process. By investing a few hundred Prosperity points, Percy improved the healing potion enough to fix his arms in one go. Thereby, Percy was given enough time and the means to focus on other things for the rest of the week. He amassed money by hunting and collecting herbs, increased his Prosperity again, and spent several hours daily training and studying. It was exhausting, but after his life and death fight with Niko and his cronies, Percy understood how important it was to grow stronger. His life depended on his growth, quite literally. Since the Gnoll¡¯s Augmentations weren¡¯t that easy to comprehend and use, other than [Minor Strength Boost] as a passive Augmentation that improved Percy¡¯s strength permanently, he had much to learn and improve. Percy ended up training with the iron dagger for hours, his mind pushing him back to fight with the Adventurers. He created images of the Adventurers and recreated the fight on the Guildhall''s training ground. Percy fought them in his sleep as well. He didn¡¯t know what exactly had happened, but on some days, he was thrown back into the battle against the four Adventurers. The scenario was the same as that day as well. The only difference was that Percy could use different tactics to fight the Adventurers and experiment with his improved strength and understanding of the blade and the essence of combat. He could hunt more freely¡­and fiercely. Thus, after several days of hard work passed, Percy was confident enough to return to the Guildhall. He was ready for the Silver rank promotion exam! The Guildhall looked the same as always, but the atmosphere was somber. Not even the veteran Adventurers could keep their cool anymore. Even though they¡¯d never met the Archyeas, it messed with their minds. Should I be worried? Probably. Maybe I should be even more concerned than others. I¡¯ve already seen the Lesser Demon. Or is that what they fear: the unknown? Percy summoned his interface to distract from the somber atmosphere as he approached the counter. ¡ºPercy ¡» [Ego ¨C Coin of Prosperity] [Tier] ¨C [Elite-0] ¡ª [Gnoll(Common ¨C???) ¨C [Blade Mastery??],[A Hunter¡¯s Smell?], [Minor Strength Boost?]] [Empty] ¡ºCoin of Prosperity¡» Prosperity: 14,185 ?Consume His lips parted, and he was just about to register for the promotion exam when a commotion from outside attracted their attention. Men and women cheered excitedly as the sound of horse neighing reached the Guildhall. Raewood had some horses, but they didn¡¯t sound as vigorous. ¡°What is¨C...¡± One of the Adventurers walked toward the Guildhall entrance but couldn¡¯t even reach the double door when it swung open, revealing a group of ten men and women wearing silver full-body armor. Their armor simmered beautifully, and not a single speck of dust tarnished the flawless silver metal. A symbol depicting an icicle had been engraved on their chestplate, but that wasn¡¯t the only place Percy found it. He discovered the same symbol on their longsword sheath, belts, and other positions. If not for their imposing entrance or the pressure each of the men and women exuded, Percy would have asked the receptionist what was happening. But maybe that would have been useless. The receptionist stared starstruck at the armored men and women, his jaw nearly hitting the wooden counter. The group entered the room slowly and scrutinized it intently. ¡°What are the Glacia Knights doing here?¡± A veteran Adventurer asked. Glacia Knights? I think I¡¯ve heard of them¡­ Aren¡¯t the Glacia Knights part of a noble¡¯s force? ¡°Are they the reinforcement? Maybe they¡¯ll get rid of the Archyeas!¡± Another one added with a touch of excitement. The receptionist regained his senses hearing the Adventurers and rushed around the counter to approach the Glacia Knights. He nearly tripped, but the Glacia Knight at the top responded quickly. His hand shot forward, catching the poor receptionist. ¡°Thank you, Sir!¡± The receptionist said in a hurry. He got up, cleared his throat, and bowed deeply. ¡°Sirs! Did you come to Raewood to execute the Archyeas?¡± The Glacia Knights frowned deeply and looked at their leader until a high-pitched shriek resounded from their midst. The Glacia Knights moved to the side, revealing a young woman. No, she was more of a teenage girl around Percy¡¯s age. But she was beautiful. Percy hadn¡¯t seen many girls around his age, but he was certain the girl surrounded by Glacia Knights was one of the most beautiful in the kingdom. She had long dark hair that shimmered blue in the reflection of sunlight, piercing amber eyes, and a confident yet mischievous smile on her lips. Percy didn¡¯t know who that woman was, but she excluded an irresistible combination of toughness and beauty. She looked confident and cheerful, yet unapproachable, as if taking a step closer to her would freeze you to death. ¡°What is a Lesser Demon doing in this part of the Meiso Plains?¡± B1 Chapter 36 - To the Demon The receptionist was stunned and stared a second too long at the girl. She clicked her tongue disapprovingly and was about to act when the Glacia Knight at the front stepped forward, smiling kindly at the staff. The receptionist sweated profusely, trying to grasp what was going on. His head was red, and Percy imagined smoke oozing from his nose and ears. The Glacia Knights¡¯ arrival could have been explained by considering them as the reinforcement deployed to kill the Archyeas. However, the girl¡¯s appearance was enough to turn the receptionist into a full-fledged fool. Poor guy. He is done for. But what is a noble woman doing here? They must be here for something else if they just heard about the Archyeas for the first time. He studied a lot and was already through a good portion of the books in the Guildhall¡¯s library, but Percy couldn¡¯t remember all noble houses, the names of their armies, and the like. He was sure the Glacia Knights belonged to a big household, which was even more confusing. There shouldn¡¯t be a good reason for Gifted Ones like the Glacia Knight to be here, whether the noblewoman was with them or not. Percy scrutinized the situation calmly after giving up all hope of registering and completing the silver promotion exam for the day. Still sweating profusely, the receptionist explained the situation in a hurry, not without addressing the noblewoman wrongly too often. The Glacia Knights¡¯ expressions changed slowly, not because of the Archyeas but because the receptionist struggled to speak to their lady with the required etiquette. Percy observed a few Adventurers pale as the Glacia Knights reached for their weapons. At the same time, the receptionist continued reporting the situation with the Archyeas with as many details as he remembered. Unfortunately, he was stuck at some point and struggled visibly, only to make eye contact with Percy. His eyes lit up while Percy¡¯s eyes narrowed to tiny slits. You¡¯re not going to do that¡­right?!? The receptionist spun back to the Glacia Knights¡¯ leader and pointed at Percy. He said a few words, which seemed to generate the desired effect. The Glacia Knights¡¯ Captain dismissed the receptionist while his eyes bore into Percy. Fuck you. Can¡¯t you do your job without dragging me into this mess?! The Glacia Knight Captain approached him, his hand resting lightly on his sword¡¯s pommel. He smiled at the youth and hinted a nod. ¡°Did you discover the Lesser Demon?¡± The Glacia Knight Captain¡¯s voice was hoarse and full of vigor, but it wasn¡¯t scary. At least, not to Percy. ¡°I saw the Archyeas. It was busy tearing apart a few Orcs, but I got a good view. I was lucky it was busy playing with the Orcs, otherwise, I would be dead,¡± He reported, still analyzing the change in the situation, ¡°My name is Percy.¡± ¡°I¡¯m Ulfhar Swam, Guardian of Lady Reeze and the captain of this little unit,¡± Ulfhar pointed at the Glacia Knights behind him with a proud smile, ¡°I need your help with something.¡± Percy raised an eyebrow but nodded slowly. Not helping the Glacia Knights might not get him killed, but displeasing the first noble he encountered, alongside her bodyguards, was probably not the most brilliant move. ¡°Could you come with us and show us where you found the Archyeas? You don¡¯t have to do anything else.¡± ¡°I showed Guildmaster Lexter the spot a few weeks ago, but he didn¡¯t find anything. I don¡¯t thi¨C....¡± Ulfhar¡¯s dark eyes stared at him, highlighting his dead-serious expression. ¡°...But I can show you.¡± Ulfhar turned around at that. He heard what he wanted to hear from Percy and nodded to the girl, whom he presumed to be Lady Reeze. The noblewoman turned to the door and left, the Glacia Knights following her in perfect formation. The news of the Archyeas didn¡¯t seem to shock them. There was no trace of fear in their eyes. If anything, Percy saw the excitement in their eyes. Guildmaster Lexter has been searching for the Lesser Demon for weeks. Do they think it will be easy to find the Archyeas? It wasn¡¯t his business what they would do, but Percy couldn¡¯t hide his curiosity. His mana perception was above average, and it was easy to tell that each of the Glacia Knights was stronger than most Silver Rank Adventurers in Raewood. Maybe Dave was physically stronger than some of them, but the hulking giant was an exception. Their armor is magical. They carry more Artifacts than most can afford in their lifetime. Percy was interested in the Glacia Knights. Maybe they could locate and hunt the Lesser Demon. The death of the Archyeas would solve¡­everything. Once the Archyeas is dead, I can leave Raewood. He followed Ulfhar, who moved to the top of the Glacia Knight formation with strong strides. His expression was calm and composed, but Percy could see the vigor and fierce flames of great power in his eyes. This is odd. Why do I feel so comfortable around this guy? It was odd for Percy, but the Glacia Knight Captain felt highly trustworthy. The same could be said about most Glacia Knights. They didn¡¯t feel as slimy as most Adventurers. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. They¡¯re honorable knights who would give their lives to protect their Lady. Percy remembered from one of the few books about nobles: the Reeze Dukedom and its glorious warriors, the Glacia Knight Order. Lady Reeze was accompanied to the carriage waiting for her before the Guildhall. Percy gasped, his eyes widening in surprise. The carriage was big enough to accommodate several passengers comfortably. He couldn¡¯t see much of its inside, but it was made of sturdy blackwood, and a type of ocean-blue wood Percy had never seen before. Intricate, vibrant silver letters created beautiful circles. They connected seamlessly and seemed to form and change shape, forming the crest of the Reeze house. Similar silvery letters could be seen everywhere. Percy found them engraved on small glass windows, the carriage¡¯s wheels, underneath the roof, and in multiple other locations. They were runic enchantments. So many runes. That material ¨C no, the entire carriage ¨C must be worth a fortune. I wonder how much I could gain from consuming it. Percy smiled at the carriage, wondering how much Prosperity he would obtain from it. Lady Reeze had just entered the carriage and looked outside, gesturing the Glacia Knights to move, when her eyes trailed to him. She stared coldly at him, disgust flickering in her eyes. ¡°You can sit here,¡± The Knight Captain called for Percy and pointed at the open seat next to the coachman. The coachman studied him with a friendly smile and tapped next to him, ¡°Come here, kid.¡± However, Percy turned to Ulfhar instead, ¡°I don¡¯t mean to pry, but aren¡¯t you too trustful? What if I¡¯m a bad guy?¡± The Glacia Knights laughed while Ulfhar waved dismissively ¡°Everyone here is strong enough to protect themselves and others. Especially Melissa.¡± He cleared his throat and added, ¡°Lady Reeze can protect herself.¡± That doesn¡¯t explain anything. Are you guys arrogant, or is that how confident you are about everyone¡¯s strength? He might not be a full-fledged Silver Rank Adventurer yet, but a well-placed blade would kill the Glacia Knights, too. ¡°Let¡¯s not waste any more time here!¡± Lady Reeze¡¯s voice rang out from the carriage. Ulfhar ushered an order and approached his horse, a grey Steppe, one of the largest horse breeds in the kingdom. They were known for their fierce temperament and excellent strength. But the grey Steppe before Ulfhar wasn¡¯t fierce. It watched the Glacia Knight Captain calmly and allowed him to ride it. The Knight Captain swung his heavy body lightly across the Grulla Steppe¡¯s back and landed smoothly in the saddle. The other Glacial Knights followed suit and approached their horses while Percy climbed onto the carriage to sit beside the coachman. How did I not notice the horses earlier? Did they leave their horses in the open like that? Someone could have stolen them! Percy realized only now that no Glacia Knight bound their horse anywhere. They¡¯d left the horses to fend for themselves when they entered the Guildhall, and the horses did precisely that. From the looks of it, none of the horses fled. On the contrary, they approached their rider and neighed happily. That is not how I remember horses to be. Is it possible to train horses this well? Watching the Glacia Knights was interesting. It was also very impressive to be surrounded by many well-known Knights. ¡°Is riding difficult to learn?¡± Percy asked the coachman. He didn¡¯t know what else to ask to break the ice and decided to use the opportunity to learn a little bit about the world outside Raewood and some things he might have to know in the near future. Furthermore, it would be boring riding the carriage in utter silence. ¡°Riding a horse can be challenging for several reasons. It requires balance, coordination, posture, strength, and stamina, but those are only the physical requirements. To become a good rider, you need to understand a horse¡¯s behavior, create a bond with your mount, and master several riding techniques for various instances. But there is more to it. You must always stay attentive, which requires constant focus, and learn how to multi-task to ride and oversee your surroundings. Even after paying attention to all this, you¡¯ll have to learn much more¡­¡± The coachman explained while directing the carriage outside Raewood. He glanced at Percy sadly and added, ¡°It¡¯s also costly. There is a good reason we call horse-riding a noble¡¯s privilege.¡± Is he telling me I look poor? Probably not¡­though he wouldn¡¯t be wrong. The corner of Percy¡¯s lips curled upward. He wasn¡¯t rich by any means and would probably never be. Most of his fortune would be consumed and used to strengthen him in the future. More questions tormented his mind, and he didn¡¯t hold back anymore. Since the coachman was talkative, Percy used his opportunity to learn a lot. Percy and the coachmen talked a lot as the Glacia Knights and the carriage traveled over an even trail often used by merchants to reach their destination. The trail wasn¡¯t a direct way to their destination, but they arrived in no time. Carriages were much faster than the human foot, after all. Even though the trip didn¡¯t take long, Percy learned a lot about the coachman¡¯s life, horses, the Reeze Dukedom, the kingdom, politics, various stereotypes ¨C most related to Adventurers and their drive to do stupid things in greed ¨Cand the Glacia Knights. At some point, one of the Glacia Knight riders joined them to talk about their glorious battles, but the Knight Captain interrupted the young man. Ulfher lectured the Glacia Knight and ordered him to fulfill his duty. He snapped at the Glacia Knight, telling him to be a chatterbox once he was off duty. Despite the Knight Captain¡¯s angry tone, the young Knight grinned, supported by a surrounding burst of laughter. Most Glacia Knights had been listening to the coachman and smiled from one ear to another when the coachman spoke highly of their camaraderie, seamless teamwork, and loyalty. Once they arrived at the destination, Percy jumped to the ground. ¡°I was hiding over there,¡± he said, pointing at a large tree, some bushes, and a small open area on the forest outskirts. The only remnants of the bloody massacre were some bones, ¡°The Archyeas ripped the Orcs apart in this small clearing.¡± The Glacia Knights inspected the surroundings while one of them approached the bones. A mass of glimmering mots formed around him as he retrieved a Card. A small chestnut wolf the size of a Berserk Rabbit appeared next to the Glacia Knight. ¡°He¡¯s a Cardist?!¡± Percy exclaimed, unable to hide his surprise. A sneer resounded from the carriage behind him. Evidently, the snobby girl heard him. The Glacia Knight Captain smiled proudly, but it was one of the Glacia Knights ¨C the same young man who¡¯d been lectured earlier ¨C who said something. ¡°All Glacia Knights are Cardists. But our captain is much more than that. He has an Ego, just like Lady Reeze!¡± Oh? B1 Chapter 37 - Lair Something about the Glacia Knight Captain felt different but to think he has an Ego. I wonder what his Ego does. Percy eyed Ulfhar, who cursed his subordinate quietly before paying more attention to the small wolf summon. The monster rushed to the carriage and stopped before Percy. It circled him multiple times and sniffed in the air while exuding mana. ¡°Don¡¯t block it.¡± A voice rang out beside him as something pressed against him. Whatever pressed against him wasn¡¯t physical but gaseous and invisible to the naked eye. Percy looked left and right as the pressure on his body increased. It pressed hard on his chest and reached his neck until the unknown thing reached his neck. Percy tensed up, his muscles bulged, and he was about to unleash a burst of mana to remove whatever was pressing against him when it retracted. The little dog whimpered, looking at Percy as if he¡¯d beat and kicked it just now. The Glacia Knight controlling the Card tilted his head and frowned deeply. ¡°Is the trail too old?¡± Ulfhar asked, but his subordinate shook his head, ¡°No. The Silver Snout Dachshund knows where we have to go. It¡¯s just that it never reacted like that.¡± He looked at the captain and continued quieter. Unfortunately, Percy didn¡¯t hear what the Glacia Knight said. He would have loved to know what had just happened because nobody explained anything to him. Ulfhar¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change, and he gestured to his subordinate to move. The Silver Snout Dachshund barked in Percy¡¯s direction a few times but turned and charged into the plains as fast as its tiny legs could carry the little monster. The coachman smiled at Percy, who had difficulties controlling his expression. ¡°That is what I meant when I said the Glacia Knights have their means to locate the Lesser Demon. The Silver Snout Dachshund is a rare breed and drop Monster Cards less likely than ordinary monsters. Most don¡¯t even think about hunting them because you can easily tame them. This one was Igor¡¯s pet. It died tracking a demonic beast in the south and turned into a Monster Card.¡± He cleared his throat and smiled sadly, his eyes trailing Igor and the Dachshund, ¡°Sometimes stuff like that happens. Either way, the Silver Snout Dachshund transformed into a special Monster Card with a Tracking Augmentation. It can track anything with little to no clues, but the chances of finding the target¡¯s most recent location are higher by entering the target¡¯s hunting grounds ¨C if known ¨C and scanning someone who has encountered the target. I don¡¯t know exactly how it works, but you must have sensed the Dachshund¡¯s mana.¡± Percy nodded slowly. A Tracking Augmentation would have been helpful for Guildmaster Lexter. He would have caught the Archyeas with one. The Guildmaster was probably also a Cardist, but Percy had no idea what kind of monsters he could summon. Certainly not a Tracking Augmentations. I think that¡¯s certain at this point. Percy snickered inwardly and returned to the coachman to the carriage. They continued using the even merchant trails another two hours before the Silver Snout Dachshund led them to uneven grounds in the plains. This doesn¡¯t look very inviting. The forest was more pleasant to the eye. The forest was flourishing and full of life. Both flora and fauna were growing rapidly in the forest. Percy knew it would be different in other regions, but he didn¡¯t expect the Meiso Plains to look that different. First, the Meiso Plains looked like always. An endless expanse of flat terrain covered in grasses and wildflowers swaying in the breeze. That was what Percy expected. Maybe some shrubs and rare lone trees highlighting the scenery, but that was it. He didn¡¯t expect their destination to be an uneven, desolate patch of wilting grass and dying flora. ¡°It¡¯s not far from here,¡± The coachman mumbled tensely. He had been calm and composed until he saw the dying flora. From that moment onward, the coachman and the Glacia Knights transformed. Their nonchalant and joyous behavior was replaced by seriousness and vigilance. Ulfhar made a sign, and everyone jumped from their horses and patted them before the creatures¡­dispersed. Their horses are also summoned. They¡¯re Monster Cards?! The Glacia Knights walked around the carriage and changed into a defensive formation around Lady Reeze as the door to her carriage swung open. She studied the surroundings curiously and frowned at the dying patch of land. Percy didn¡¯t glance long at the noblewoman but was surprised at how much she¡¯d changed in the last few hours. Lady Reeze was covered in light armor, a mix of metal to protect her vital spots, and tempered leather or hide to protect the rest of her body without taking away her mobility. She wore multiple rings, bracelets, and a necklace. A short sword hung down her side, and she wielded a small wooden staff, probably a wand. Everything is an Artifact engraved with multiple runic enchantments. Elite Artifacts of the highest quality. If it wasn¡¯t obvious that she was of noble birth before, her current appearance makes it quite clear. Lady Reeze noticed Percy¡¯s gaze and responded with a disgusted look while waving her hair back. She scoffed again as she studied his equipment momentarily and turned around. One of her silver rings lit up as she pressed her hand against the large insignia of the Reeze Dukedom, and the massive carriage disappeared. The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. I¡­should have expected that one. Spatial equipment. Lady Reeze turned back with a prideful expression and looked at Percy as if to say, ¡®Did you see that? That¡¯s how wealthy I am!¡¯ The noblewoman irritated Percy. Was every noblewoman like that, or was this one just¡­unique? It would be impressive if you earned this, but that is your daddy¡¯s fortune. Did she expect me to praise her or to exclaim in surprise? Lady Reeze clicked her tongue and turned away. She said something to her Guardian, Ulfhar, and followed the Silver Snout Dachshund without waiting for her bodyguards to follow. Even though the young noblewoman confused him, he was surprised to see her walking ahead. He¡¯d expected most nobles to always hide behind their people, but she seemed eager to fight the Archyeas. Furthermore, despite wearing light armor and various accessories ¨C Artifacts of the highest quality ¨C Percy discovered scratches and traces of use everywhere. The Glacia Knights eyed Percy oddly for staring at their lady with such intensity, but he didn¡¯t mind. As long as they didn¡¯t think about attacking him, Percy would be fine. She acts like a pampered little girl but has some combat experience. Didn¡¯t I read about the noble household being the pillars of the kingdom¡¯s military forces? What was it again? The privileges of nobles are not as cheap as most people say. Nobles must fight the strongest enemies to protect their land, the kingdom, and loved ones. Maybe I should renew my impression of nobles? Percy had yet to learn how to understand nobles, their actions, and their behavior. Maybe they did everything for a reason? With that in mind, Percy returned to the coachman, who was happy to answer his questions. Talking to Percy took his mind off the upcoming battle. Unfortunately, the distraction didn¡¯t last long. The last remnants of life left the surrounding landscape as they followed the Dachshund, which winced and yelped uncontrollably less than ten minutes after they entered the dying patch of land. A rotten, pungent smell entered Percy¡¯s nose even before the giggling resounded through the dying land. He stiffened and turned to their right, where a familiar, grotesque creature awaited them. The Archyeas, unfolding its long, leathery wings, laughed loudly, bulging, eerily dark eyes locked onto Lady Reeze. The creature¡¯s head flicked to Percy, and its expression derailed momentarily. It stared at Percy as if confused about what he was doing there. The moment ended faster than anyone could react, and the Archyeas resumed giggling quietly. Only Percy¡¯s mind was still stuck in the moment the Lesser Demon had been staring at him. Why did it look at me like that? The Archyeas screeched suddenly, tearing Percy out of his train of thoughts, and charged ahead. Its large wings beat in the rhythm of its footsteps, accelerating the Lesser Demon¡¯s top speed. It approached the Glacia Knights, who had already made their move quickly. The Glacia Knights were veterans on the battlefield and responded like that. Several Glacia Knights summoned their horses and mounted them smoothly while retrieving massive lances from their storage Artifacts. Two riders shot to the left while another pair moved swiftly to the right and charged to the center of the battlefield, executing a perfect pincer attack to restrain the Archyeas¡¯ movements. The Lesser Demon couldn¡¯t stop, or the lances would impale it. What is it going to do? Fly? Retreat? Or continue to attack? Theoretically, the Lesser Demon would never flee from a battle. Still, speaking from his little practical knowledge, Percy knew that a theoretical understanding of a monster¡¯s usual behavior didn¡¯t mean it would always behave like that. The temperature around them dropped suddenly, and the ground around Melissa Reeze froze, but nothing else happened. She groaned impatiently when the Lesser Demon decided to charge ahead. The Glacia Knight Captain made his move. He unsheathed his longsword eerily slowly and waited until the last moment before pushing ahead. He kicked the ground hard, stirring the loose earth around him, and transformed into a flash. Ulfhar appeared behind the Archyeas, their backs pointed to each other and brandished his blood-soaked sword. Dark blood spurted through the air, and the Lesser Demon¡¯s upper body slid down from its lower body. It landed on the ground with a resounding thud. The Archyeas had been killed. Just like that, the terror of Raewood had died. So fast! How can someone move so fast in such heavy armor?! Percy¡¯s eyes bulged in surprise, ¡°Amazing!¡± ¡°Of course. The Glacia Knights are the best of the best!¡± Melissa exclaimed, her voice filled with pride. She realized what she was doing too late and turned away from Percy with a scoff. Percy didn¡¯t mind that. He studied the Archyeas¡¯ corpse, confused about how a powerful creature could die this easily. Will they take the corpse? Maybe they¡¯re too busy or don¡¯t care about its corpse. He smiled at the unlikely scenario and was about to turn around when his heart tightened. A resounding giggling swept all across the dying path of land. Percy shuddered, and his head flicked to where he presumed the giggling had come from. His eyes darted to where they found the Archyeas before, and he focused on a small spot. For a few seconds, nothing happened. The giggling seemed to disappear like a bad nightmare. Then, everything changed. The space seemed to twist and turn around the spot Percy was focusing on. His hair stood to its end, and his hands reached for the Gnoll Blade and the iron dagger. The space opposite them cracked open, and a vibrant violet light illuminated the surroundings. The light expanded slowly in all directions until it was the size of the Glacia Knight riders. The Glacia Knights pushed forward. They paled when the violet fissure in space appeared but reacted quickly, moving ahead instinctively to protect their lady and the civilians. What was that? Did I see something through the fissure? Only the edges of the crack in space glowed violently. The rest showed a lifelike landscape, a bloody red land filled with deadly monsters. That was all Percy could see from the glimpse he caught before the first creature emerged from the fissure. It was a familiar, deadly creature with humanoid skin, stretchy, violet hide, razor-sharp claws, and leathery wings. An Archyeas emerged from the crack, its giggles resounding through the dead silence of the dying land. ¡°An Infernal Lair!¡± The coachman gasped in terror. Meanwhile, more Archyeas and something much bigger emerged from the crack. B1 Chapter 38 - Infernal Lair The atmosphere tightened as more demonic creatures emerged from the Infernal Lair. The Glacia Knights grit their teeth and brandished their weapons without leaving their formation for a second while Ulfhar looked back to Percy, his eyes narrowed to tiny slits. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say there was only one?!¡± Percy¡¯s lips parted, but no word came out for a second. His eyes darted to the small mass of Archyeas and the larger demon walking toward them. ¡°There was only one¡­¡± He said, ¡°Raewood doesn¡¯t have enough Adventurers to deal with this many.¡± Ulfhar clicked his tongue, ¡°It must have nourished the Infernal Lair.¡± His eyes drifted back to the crack in space, and Percy¡¯s gaze followed. It was only now that he noticed how unstable the Infernal Lair was. The crack in space narrowed with every demon emerging from it. Finally, after the 20th Archyeas stepped out of the Infernal Lair, it disappeared. The crack in space vanished, leaving behind a small¡­marble. The Archyeas giggled and spread their wings as if trying to use their wings to look more imposing. That didn¡¯t work, but it wasn¡¯t necessary in the first place. Percy was intimidated enough by the appearance of twenty Archyeas and one larger demon. He grasped his weapons tightly and accessed the Gnoll Card to summon Hyean. The Gnoll appeared next to Percy and accepted its blade without any delay. Percy stepped next to the Gnoll and entered a combat stance, which Hyean followed. ¡°A Cardist,¡± The coachman noted. ¡°Surprise,¡± Percy said with a flat smile but turned deadly serious when the charge of Archyeas began. The Glacia Knights ¨C no more than a dozen in total ¨C channeled mana into their brandished weapons and ahead. The surrounding temperature dropped by a few more degrees as the Glacia Knights¡¯ weapons radiated eerie cold. The Glacia Knight Captain was the first to arrive before his enemies. He was faster than before and beheaded an Archyeas. The beheaded Archyeas¡¯ head landed on the ground with a thud, but both ends of the severed neck were frozen solid. Tremendous power and mighty Artifacts. That¡¯s the Glacia Knights for you. Percy shuddered in excitement but remained vigilant. Even though the Glacia Knight Captain was powerful, it didn¡¯t mean Ulfhar or his subordinates were undefeatable. The Glacia Knight riders were the next to appear left and right to the Archyeas. They pincered the demonic creatures and impaled two with their lances. The spot around the area of impact turned blue and started freezing. It cracked dangerously and burst apart, expanding the hole as the Glacia Knight Riders retrieved their lances. Two riders missed their target by a hair¡¯s breadth. The Lesser Demons twisted their bodies and flapped their wings to gain more momentum to execute a counterattack. They evaded the Glacia Knight rider¡¯s lances and kicked the ground to pounce on the horses. The Glacia Knight riders were surprised, but they let go of their lances and retrieved small daggers to deal with the Archyeas on top of their summoned horses. Once one of the horses was about to be struck, the Glacia Knight retrieved the horse back into its Card. The Archyeas didn¡¯t expect the horse underfoot to disappear so suddenly and reacted a moment too late. It fell into the Glacia Knight¡¯s dagger and squealed hideously. However, the creature was not yet dead. Archyeas were not that easy to kill. The Archyeas grasped the Glacia Knight¡¯s hand and squeezed it with all its might. The Lesser Demon¡¯s tremendous raw strength was enough to squash the Knight¡¯s gauntlet and force the Glacia Knight to let go of his dagger. Once the Glacia Knight let go of the dagger, the Archyeas slapped the man with the back of its claws. A moment later, the Archyeas disappeared. The Glacia Knight grit his teeth in pain but looked around, searching for the Lesser Demon. ¡°Above you!¡± Someone called from behind, but it was already too late. The Archyeas dived toward him from high above. Its claws were coated in its demonic essence, ready to tear the Glacia Knight¡¯s armor and body apart in one attack. But before the Lesser Demon could reach the Glacia Knight, a massive icicle smashed into its back, altering the demonic creature¡¯s trajectory by force. ¡°Kill it,¡± Melissa Reeze commanded coldly before her attention returned to the battlefield. Her wand glimmered faintly as mana coursed through its tip. Another giant icicle formed its tip, and she released it to prevent another Archyeas from delivering a lethal blow to her Glacia Knights. The Glacia Knights were powerful, but nobody was prepared for a wave of demons. They didn¡¯t have the right equipment to weaken and overwhelm demons at their hands. Thus, everyone had to pull their weight in this battle. Ulfhar struck down the third Archyeas before the taller demon reached him. It didn¡¯t have any wings or claws like the Archyeas. Instead, the demon was almost a meter taller than the Archyeas, had thick black scales covering its entire body, and massive blades replacing its hands. The creature had six eyes, a flat nose, and two twirled horns jut from its forehead. Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. Isn¡¯t that a type of Bladed Demon? What was their name again? ¡°Pleacis.¡± Someone next to Percy gasped, and he nodded, slowly recalling the creature from the Demonology book he¡¯d read in Raewood¡¯s Guildhall. An Elite Demon. What the hell is one of their Elite doing here?!? Percy didn¡¯t like that, but there was little they could do about it. He could only hope Ulfhar was strong enough to deal with the Pleacis. If not, they were all dead. Melissa Reeze paled when her Guardian and the Pleacis collided but didn¡¯t run for her life. Neither did the Glacia Knights. The girl and her bodyguards trusted the Glacia Knight Captain with their lives. Thus, Percy did the same. He studied the battlefield and observed the Glacia Knights as they were pushed back. The Glacia Knight Captain was strong enough to kill an Archyeas with a single blow, but the Glacia Knights couldn¡¯t do the same. No, they could do the same, but they had to be careful. Their enemies had a numerical advantage, but the Archyeas¡¯ demonic essence was also something they couldn¡¯t counter either. The Glacia Knights couldn¡¯t afford to get hit by their demonic essence. But that was not all. They had to protect not only the Lady but also Percy and the coachman. The Glacia Knights'' tactic changed once the sixth Archyeas fell. The numerical disadvantage was barely noticeable, and their weapon enchantments revealed their true value. Each cut spread the weapons¡¯ freezing properties in the wounds, slowing the Lesser Demons and worsening their condition. At the same time, Lady Reeze fired icicles with the same properties at the creatures¡¯ lower bodies and wings, further slowing their momentum. It didn¡¯t take long for Melissa Reeze to conjure an icicle, but she took her time aiming. The young noble hesitated too long. That was mostly fine, but it turned into a problem when a small Archyeas evaded a Glacia Knight¡¯s swordstrike and Melissa¡¯s icicle simultaneously. It spun in the air and propelled to Melissa and the coachman. Melissa cursed, a bead of sweat trickling down her temples as she conjured several icicles simultaneously. She released the barrage of icicles, but the Archyeas changed its trajectory suddenly. It leaped high into the air and appeared above the young noble, who smiled as a new icicle formed at the tip of her wand. She released the icicle with a burst of mana¡­but didn¡¯t expect the Archyeas to cover its face and upper body with its wings. The icicle smashed into the wings and penetrated one of them before shattering, spreading its freezing properties alongside the leathery wings. The Archyeas crashed to the ground before Melissa, but it was up and ready to tear the young noble apart instantaneously. Yet, before the Lesser Demon could reach the young noble, Percy had moved into the small spot separating them. He hadn¡¯t even thought before his legs carried him to the Archyeas. The Gnoll followed him and slashed the Archyeas, which giggled disgustingly as it raised its claw to block the incoming slash. It noticed the mana-humming blade too late and was forced to release a burst of its demonic essence through its claws to block the enchanted Gnoll Blade. Percy¡¯s attack was dangerous, but the iron dagger wasn¡¯t enchanted. Mana coursed through it, but the mana-augmented blade was barely enough to cut through the Archyeas¡¯ palm. The Lesser Demon giggled and grasped Percy¡¯s blade tightly. He heard cracking noises and saw from the corner of his eyes how his iron dagger¡¯s Prosperity dropped. It¡¯s using demonic essence to destroy the dagger! Percy wasn¡¯t weak anymore. The Gnoll¡¯s [Minor Strength Boost] Augmentation pushed his physical strength to a higher level, but the gap was still too big. He saw that clearly when he executed a smooth high-kick to the Lesser Demon¡¯s head. His legs hurt like he¡¯d kicked an iron pole, while the Lesser Demon responded by opening its maw wide to dig into his leg and rip out a chunk of his flesh. To Percy¡¯s fortune, the Gnoll was already on the move. It pounced toward the Archyeas and executed a series of fast slashes and stabs. [Blade Mastery] worked in perfect harmony with [Minor Strength Boost], creating both powerful and highly effective attacks. The Gnoll Blade¡¯s [Sharpness] enchantment was the cherry on top, ensuring the blade would cut deep into the Archyeas¡¯ flesh. The Lesser Demon didn¡¯t like what Percy and Hyean were doing. It coated its entire body in demonic essence and focused on Percy once it sensed the connection between him and the Gnoll. Percy blocked the first attack with a [Reinforce] augmented [Guard] shield, but the second attack tore through his forearm, severing the [Guard] enchantment neatly. Percy tried evading the third attack, but the Lesser Demon was stronger and much faster than Percy. It slashed him a third time, its claws digging deep into the tempered leather armor. The only reason its claws didn¡¯t cut straight through the armor and pierce into his flesh was the [Reinforce] enchantment. Percy¡¯s mana reserves drained quickly, and he broke into a cold sweat but smiled through the fear. The Archyeas¡¯ claw was stuck in his armor. Even if it was only stuck for a quarter of a second, it was enough for his ally to react. The Archyeas¡¯ leg smashed against the Gnoll, pushing it back, but his summoned monster wasn¡¯t his only ally. A massive icicle whizzed past Percy¡¯s head and pierced deep through the Archyeas¡¯ eyeball. The icicle reached the demonic creature¡¯s brain and shattered, splattering its brain while freezing the rest of its head instantaneously. ¡°Weakling,¡± Melissa commented coldly. Didn¡¯t I help you just now?! Percy felt like the young noble had just slapped him in the face for rescuing them, but he was glad that she helped him nonetheless. He swallowed his anger and smiled at her. ¡°Thank you.¡± I can be the bigger person, He commented in his head, observing a drastic change in Melissa¡¯s expression. She scowled at him, ¡°I¡¯m feeling generous today. Consider yourself fortunate, and never talk to me without addressing me properly!¡± Forget that. I don¡¯t want to be the bigger person anymore. I shouldn¡¯t have stopped the Archyeas. This girl deserves a beating! B1 Chapter 39 - Injured Melissa glanced at Percy and saw the fiery fire in his eyes. Don¡¯t even think about it. She channeled mana into her golden ring ¨C her spatial storage ¨C and replaced her wooden wand with a small rod. The rod was barely 30 centimeters long and black like the abyss. Melissa scoffed at Percy and infused mana into the rod as silver lines etched all over the rod surfaced. A bead of sweat trickled down her temples and her arms started trembling uncontrollably clutching the rod tightly. Percy swallowed when the black rod appeared in Melissa¡¯s hands. He didn¡¯t know what the object could do, but his senses told him to be careful. The Coin of Prosperity in Percy spun wildly; the eyes of the devilish grimace glowing brightly. Pristine glowing particles gathered at the tip of the black rod and melted into each other. They fused and transformed into a glowing mass of¡­mana. Melissa was drenched in sweat, but the corner of her lips tilted upward. Her eyes flickered in excitement as she released the mana mass. A burst of mana was all it took to hurl the mana mass across the battlefield. It smashed into one of the unscathed Archyeas and pierced smoothly through its chest. The Archyeas looked down and reached for the empty hole where its chest had once been. A fountain of dark blood gushed from the hole, and the Archyeas collapsed. The Lesser Demon was dead before the body landed on the ground. Seven hells!! She killed that Archyeas effortlessly¡­ Maybe I shouldn¡¯t anger her. He glanced at the sweat-drenched noble girl and shuddered, imagining what would happen if the mana mass struck him. Not even [Reinforce] and several [Guard] shields would be enough to save him. Melisa smiled vibrantly and charged the black rod excitedly again. Her arms weren¡¯t her problem at this point. Her entire body trembled wildly as the black rod was recharged. The young noble aimed the rod''s tip toward the Pleacis and was about to release the mana mass gathered at its tip when the scenery changed again. ¡°The Pleacis is a Mutant. Careful!!¡± Ulfhar shouted at the top of his lungs when he realized what had happened. Not even a full second passed when the Bladed Demon vanished into a cloud of demonic essence. It disappeared and reappeared behind Melissa, its bladed arms brandished. One moment, the space behind her was empty, and in the next second, it was there. Percy ¨C despite his high control of [A Hunter¡¯s Smell] ¨C smelled the demonic creature only after it emerged behind Melissa. Nonetheless, the smell was strong enough to perceive the demonic creature before Melissa, who spun around tightly, clutching the black rod. She shuddered, not only in exhaustion but also at the sight of the Elite Demon. The Glacia Knights were too far to reach her, leaving her alone to fend off the Bladed Demon until her bodyguards arrived. They responded quickly, Ulfhar the moment he sensed the demonic creature¡¯s mutation, but they wouldn¡¯t make it. They weren¡¯t fast enough to block the first few blows of the Bladed Demon. The young noble had to fend for herself. She raised the black rod, drawing the Pleacis¡¯ attention to the object, and screamed when the Elite Demon attacked. One of its bladed arms whisked toward Melissa, whose eyes widened in terror. She lost focus and couldn¡¯t control the mana gathered at the tip of the black rod anymore. The mana mass burst forth but struck the demon¡¯s incoming arm rather than its chest. The Pleacis screamed loud as the mana mass severed its fleshly blade where its lower arm was supposed to be. Some of the demonic creature¡¯s momentum was taken from the sudden attack, but it didn¡¯t stop attacking. The remains of the Bladed Demon¡¯s bloody arm moved too fast for the trembling noble to block. But Percy was still there. This is going to hurt a lot. I¡¯m so stupid. He cursed himself while tackling Melissa. His mana reserves were sucked dry to enforce [Reinforce] right before the bloody pulp of the Bladed Demon¡¯s arm smashed into his side. A disgustingly stretched crunch resounded in his ears as the attack reached him. His ribs shattered like toothpicks from the initial impact, and it felt like his organs ruptured. The air in his lungs was drawn out, and he was hurled through the air. For a moment, Percy couldn¡¯t differentiate top from bottom. It was not until he smashed hard into the dying ground that he realized where he was and what he¡¯d just done. He couldn¡¯t breathe, and a glance at his sides told him that the Elite Demon¡¯s bloody remains of an arm impaled him. It didn¡¯t hurt. Percy was beyond that point already. Seriously¡­Is that how I¡¯m going to die? As an idiot who was dumb enough to jump into the killing blow of an Elite Demon¡­to protect a snotty little noble girl?! He barely finished the train of thought before he lost consciousness. Percy collapsed in the puddle of blood that formed around him and stopped moving as the chaos around him continued. ** Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit. Percy was tired and didn¡¯t want to open his eyes, but the palpitating pain in his chest was too much to ignore. The underground swayed gently, but every move was uncomfortable, worsening his condition. He groaned in discomfort and moved his hand slowly to his potion pouch. His Ego-enhanced potions should ease the pain. He reached out but grasped something else instead. His hand coiled around something warm and soft. ¡°Disgusting pig!¡± A familiar voice screamed out. Percy winced and let go, but the damage was already done. A leg came his way and stomped fiercely onto his stomach. A wave of pain spread through Percy as his body tensed and bulged. His eyes shot wide open, and he realized where he was and what had happened. Percy suppressed another wince but looked at his hand and saw where Melissa Reeze¡¯s leg had been a moment before. Good job. You escape death to get killed for touching someone¡¯s leg by accident. Are you tired of living? Percy asked himself, trying to endure the worsening pain in his chest. Something warm trickled down his chest. It spread to his back and drenched what he presumed to be bandages. ¡°This is so annoying,¡± Melissa cursed under her breath before retrieving a small vial. She removed the cap and pressed it into his hand. ¡°Take this or die outside my carriage. I don¡¯t want my reputation to suffer because of the likes of you!¡± Percy¡¯s mind was foggy, and he was having difficulties understanding what was happening, but a small interface popped up when Melissa gave him a potion. [Potion of Accelerated Regeneration ¨C Perfect Quality/Ordinary ¨C 16,352 Prosperity] He could barely keep his eyes open and had yet to figure out how he ended up in Melissa¡¯s carriage, but it looked like they¡¯d survived their bout with the Bladed Demon. That was good. He would have hated dying to the Pleacis like this. Percy used his last bits of willpower to use [Consume] on Prosperity. Potion of Accelerated Regeneration Perfect Quality Potency: Ordinary ??? [Regeneration?],[Healing Sleep?], [Healing Surge??], [Regrowth?????] [Regeneration] and [Healing Sleep] lit up, but Percy barely perceived that. He used his Ego while raising the glass vial to his lips as long as he had the strength to do so. Melissa barely paid any attention to him. She ensured he had enough strength to drink the potion and looked away in disinterest when the glass vial pressed against his lips. [2,000 Prosperity has been consumed.] [Potion of Accelerated Regeneration¡¯s [Regeneration?] is overflowing with Prosperity. Potion Effect has been augmented to [Regeneration??].] [10,000 Prosperity has been consumed.] [Potion of Accelerated Regeneration¡¯s [Healing Sleep?] is overflowing with Prosperity. Dormant effect has awoken.] Percy didn¡¯t know what happened once he was done. His Prosperity was used up, and the viscous liquid trickled down his throat. His expression distorted in disgust at how sour the potion was, but he didn¡¯t hear Melissa chuckling. Percy fell asleep again. ** The next time Percy woke up, he felt much better. His chest was still hurt, but he could get up without tearing his wound open again. He looked around but saw nobody. Did they leave me alone? No, they wouldn¡¯t leave their carriage behind like that. Percy tilted his head and looked around. The bottom of the carriage was filled with blood and bandages, both probably his, but Percy was too focused on the scenery outside the carriage to realize how much blood he¡¯d lost. Where in the seven hells am I?! There were no plains in their sight, let alone the little forest. Nothing about his surroundings seemed familiar. A massive mountain range to his left and an even larger forest stretched as far as he could see. ¡°This is not Raewood or the Meiso Plains¡­Where am I?¡± He mumbled and spun around when he heard a faint neighing from the other side of the carriage. One of the Glacia Knights, a young man, glanced into the carriage and looked at Percy in surprise. His surprise was replaced by joy. ¡°It¡¯s good that you¡¯re awake. You¡¯re a tenacious kid,¡± The Glacia Knight said, but Percy was unsure if that was a compliment or if he was getting teased. The Glacia Knight turned around and shouted aloud. ¡°Our little suicidal hero is awake and jumping around!¡± Percy¡¯s hair stood up to its end, but he suppressed his gut feeling and emerged from the carriage on the other end. What awaited him were the remaining Glacia Knights and their miss sitting around a campfire. Melissa looked at him with disgust and hatred, which Percy could only reciprocate. He had no idea what crime he¡¯d committed to the young noble, but she surely wanted to see him hanging. However, the Glacia Knights were a lot scarier than Melissa. He was aware of the noble¡¯s dislike toward him. However, the Glacia Knights smiled vibrantly at him simultaneously. That was much more uncomfortable than the disgust, hatred, and mishmash of negative emotions she felt toward him. What did I miss? B1 Chapter 40 - Kidnapped? The campfire crackled quietly into the lukewarm evening as Percy approached the others. The Glacia Knights¡¯ smiles didn¡¯t cease, but they got up and scooched over. ¡°Some space to sit for our suicidal hero,¡± One of them joked. Percy smiled wryly but sat next to the Glacia Knights. The atmosphere was light and cozy. The contrast to the battle with the demons was enormous. Everyone was at ease, other than the watchguards, and chatted lightly into the night. Percy didn¡¯t say much at first, but his lips parted naturally after the Glacia Knights offered him food. He feasted on their meat stew and other delicacies and couldn¡¯t hide his happiness. His stomach had revolted, telling him how much it had been neglected in the last few days, and Percy made it a holy mission to fill it to the brim. He listened silently to the others and only exclaimed a few times when he heard his new nicknames. Suicidal hero is a great nickname compared to sleeping beauty. Is it necessary to call me a sleeping beauty only because I¡¯ve slept a few days? Isn¡¯t there some knight codex prohibiting them from bullying the weak? Percy winced, but the corner of his lips curled upward. The Glacia Knights looked stiff and like joy killers, but they were nice to be around. It was almost like the knights were a little family. ¡°You surprised us a lot, kiddo,¡± One of the older Glacia Knights said at some point, ¡°We weren¡¯t sure you would survive this, but you regenerated much faster than we could have hoped. Your body lacks some training but you are tenacious, even if you sleep too long for your good.¡± The old knight winked at the last bit, but Percy remained silent instead of exclaiming in dissatisfaction. The Glacia Knights would tease him a few days before everything would be over. Come to think of it. How much longer will I be with them? The demon hunt is over, and I¡¯m not even supposed to be here. Why did they not bring me to Raewood? Until now, he¡¯d been listening to the Glacia Knights and their teasing. That had been enough until his stomach was full of delicacies. Now, Percy needed some answers. Before he could say anything, Melissa Reeze jumped up. She glared at him, and Percy was certain he would be dead a hundred times ¨C if not more ¨C if gazes could kill and returned to the carriage. The coachman had cleaned the carriage for the young lady. Cleansing the carriage hadn¡¯t been easy and occupied the coachman for a while. Fortunately, he was finally done, and the young noble left the campfire. She didn¡¯t even try to hide her dislike for him, but something was different from before. Disliking me is one thing. Not everyone has to like me. But¡­why does it feel like he loathes me? Isn¡¯t that too excessive? Percy turned to the Glacia Knights once the coachman closed the door to the carriage behind Melissa Reeze. ¡°Why does she ¨C I mean, Lady Reeze ¨C hate me so much?¡± Etiquette might still be an issue for Percy since it was grossly exaggerated in his opinion and still something new to him. Still, he could learn and improve with time. The Glacia Knights were silent for a moment until Ulfhar passed Percy on the back. ¡°She thinks all of this is your fault.¡± ¡°Fault?¡± ¡°Well¡­¡± The Glacia Knight Captain sighed deeply while the other Glacia Knights looked to the ground. They seemed¡­ashamed? ¡°This matter is a little bit more complex than you might think. First, we didn¡¯t know there was an Infernal Lair in the Meiso Plains, but that is something we could have discovered early enough if we hadn¡¯t rushed to slay the Archyeas you sighted weeks ago. Lady Reeze ordered us to locate the Archyeas without any preparations. Her highly aggressive method to get rid of the Archyeas would have worked if the Lesser Demon was alone¡­but that wasn¡¯t the case.¡± He forced a smile on his lips and looked deep into Percy¡¯s eyes, ¡°We killed the Archyeas easily but weren¡¯t prepared for the Infernal Lair, the Archyeas Unit, let alone the Mutant Pleacis. Nobody died, but you ¨C a civilian whose help we requested ¨C got injured. It doesn¡¯t matter whether you are a Bronze Rank Adventurer or not. At the Bronze rank, any noble would consider you a civilian even if you¡¯re stronger than one.¡± ¡°So, the main problem is that a civilian got injured protecting Lady Reeze, who failed to protect herself by using the Staff of Leech. The lady knew she wasn¡¯t in the best condition to use the Staff of Leech, but that was exactly what she did. She failed to exert her powers ¨C her Ego and Cards ¨C and let her emotions take control of her, resulting in your injuries. Lady Reeze¡¯s rationality was swallowed by greed and attracted the Pleacis¡¯ attention.¡± If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. Ulfhar took a deep breath and waited a second to observe Percy, who was still intently listening. ¡°Nobody was prepared to encounter a Mutant Elite Demon in this corner of the kingdom. I was also taken by surprise and reacted too slowly. The situation escalated, and Melissa lost focus and control of her body. You had to put your life in mortal danger to rescue her, which is unfit for Duke Reeze¡¯s heiress¡­¡± The Glacia Knight Captain had more to say but noticed the confusion in Percy¡¯s eyes. ¡°Maybe politics, the importance of a noble¡¯s reputation and pristine image, and the necessity of a noble¡¯s combat prowess should be discussed later.¡± Percy nodded slowly, but he was still confused. ¡°I don¡¯t understand how any of this is my fault,¡± He grumbled quietly, ¡°You asked me to bring me to the spot where I saw the Archyeas last. It¡¯s not my fault I only saw one of them¡­How was I supposed to know there was an Infernal Lair, or whatever that thing is called?¡± The Glacia Knights pressed their lips together, but Ulfhar nodded. ¡°You are right. None of this is your fault. The problem is that our young lady wanted to use this opportunity to show off her capabilities. We think she was trying to gain acknowledgment from her father for killing a Lesser Demon before reaching adulthood. The way she handled the situation with the Infernal Lair, without issuing a single order to the Glacia Knights, and how she fought the Archyeas and Pleacis had the opposite effect.¡± ¡°Lady Reeze has a lot to learn, and she understands that now, even if she is unwilling to acknowledge it openly.¡± Percy nodded slowly. Some of it made much more sense now that someone explained it to him. ¡°So¡­she doesn¡¯t hate me because I¡¯m a commoner?¡± Some Glacia Knights burst into laughter, but their captain merely smiled, ¡°No, that¡¯s not an issue. But I think she might dislike you for being able to stay calm enough to respond to the Pleacis¡¯ attack.¡± ¡°At least everyone survived,¡± Percy mumbled, and the Glacia Knights nodded, a warm smile blossoming on their lips as they looked at the tough kid. They were honorable knights who would give their lives to protect their lady, yet the one who protected her was none other than a young man around Melissa¡¯s age. He didn¡¯t have to protect her but was courageous enough to jump before their lady and the coachman to protect them twice. ¡°You protected Lady Reeze. We owe you,¡± Ulfhar said what the others had on their mind. If not for Percy, Lady Reeze would have been injured badly in the best case or killed on the spot in the worst case. They owed him a lot. ¡°My mind went blank, and a moment later, I was already before her¡­¡± He mumbled and grasped his side when he remembered the Pleacis¡¯ bloody arm piercing through it. ¡°On another note,¡± Percy changed the topic, ¡°Where in the seven hells are we? And what happened? I should be in Raewood and not in the middle of¡­wherever this is.¡± ¡°We¡¯re still in the Meiso Plains but in its outskirts. The Pleacis hit you hard enough to kill you on the spot. If not for your tough body and your Artifact, the Pleacis would have killed you,¡± Ulfhar explained, dead seriously, ¡°You were dying, and nobody in Raewood could heal you. Our potions weren¡¯t enough to maintain your condition and heal you, so we resorted to one of Lady Reeze¡¯s Artifacts. Unfortunately, we couldn¡¯t stay in Raewood for long. We were, and still are, on a tight schedule and had to move to our destination.¡± Percy¡¯s eyes narrowed to tiny slits. ¡°You¡­kidnapped me?¡± The Glacia Knights smiled at this accusation. If not for their shining armor and for knowing them ¨C even if it was just a little ¨C Percy would have been sure he was sitting around a campfire with a group of bandits. ¡°We returned to Raewood after slaying the Pleacis to bring you to their healer and leave without you, but their healer was not there anymore. She lost her husband not too long ago and decided to follow him,¡± Ulfhar studied Percy to watch his reaction, but the youth remained silent. He swallowed hard, and his eyes widened as he realized what the Glacia Knight Captain meant. However, Percy didn¡¯t utter a word. ¡°If their Healer had been present, we wouldn¡¯t have to use the Artifact and several expensive potions to heal. You had to survive.¡± Because your Lady¡¯s image would be tarnished if I died protecting her from her foolish actions? Percy nearly said aloud but controlled himself and remained silent. The old Glacia Knight spoke again, ¡°Your acquaintances said you planned to leave Raewood soon and shouldn¡¯t feel too bad. They¡¯re wishing you good luck on your journey.¡± Apparently, the old knight was a little too loud, and Lady Reeze heard them in the carriage, ¡°They wanted to get rid of you. I understand that!¡± Percy smiled wryly but ignored the young noble¡¯s exclamation. She sounded more childish the more he listened to her. I wasn¡¯t in a rush to leave Raewood. I had some things to finish first. But¡­it¡¯s not like I have to do them. I couldn¡¯t even say goodbye¡­ He sighed deeply. It was possible to separate from the Glacia Knights and travel back to Raewood by foot, but it was dangerous to camp in the wilderness alone and for days. Returning to say goodbye before leaving with the next traveling merchant doesn¡¯t make sense. Maybe¡­I will return to Raewood in the future. Yes. Maybe I will! As long as I¡¯m alive, I might be able to return. If not for losing his armor and the iron dagger getting Damaged and Corrupted, Percy would be in a much better position. But he was alive, physically well, and the Gnoll Card was also with him. ¡°Okay¡­what now?¡± He thus asked the Glacia Knights even though the question was more for himself than others. What would happen to him now? Where was he supposed to go? B1 Chapter 41 - Exposed? Ulfhar studied Percy with a calm, knowing smile. He expected to see uncertainty, confusion, and maybe even anger in the youth¡¯s eyes, but all his eyes revealed was his determination to survive no matter what awaited him. The young Adventures was probably confused and maybe even afraid, but he didn''t show it. ¡°We are on our way to the Wintermoon estate and won''t travel through any villages, let alone towns, for a few more days. I regret to inform you that the Wintermoon estate is far from civilization. You can travel with us, or we will give you some proviant and a proper blade to defend yourself before sending you off. I recommend you to follow us. The kingdom''s citizens avoid the lands around the Wintermoon estate for a reason. It is dangerous here.¡± Percy raised an eyebrow, ¡°Why are you traveling to the Wintermoon estate if it''s so dangerous?¡± Now that his stomach was filled to the brim and some questions answered, Percy¡¯s mind worked faster and better. He could roughly gauge where he was on the maps he¡¯d studied in Raewood¡¯s Guildhall and couldn''t recall any place or estate called Wintermoon. ¡°The annual training camp for the young Imperials is being held there. The heirs of most noble households and some of the most promising Egos gather there to train.¡± Ulfhar explained, which earned him a fair share of surprised gazes. Was he not supposed to tell me that? Well, it seems to be a special place if Egos and heirs gather there. ¡°Don''t look at me like that. If you¡¯re traveling with us, you will learn about the Imperials and their training sooner or later. In the first place, we are responsible for you after all that happened.¡± The Glacia Knight Captain said seriously. Percy nodded slowly. Maybe he could gain something from traveling with the Glacia Knights. Meeting more nobles like Melissa sounded like a hassle, but if the Wintermoon estate was a good training ground for Egos and the heirs, Percy should also be able to gain a lot. ¡°If I travel to this Wintermoon estate with you¡­can I train there as well? In the first place, what makes this estate so special? Is it the strength and numbers of the monsters habituating in the surrounding lands, or is there more to it?¡± The old knight answered this time when Ulfhar hesitated, ¡°I don''t think our captain can promise you anything. The heirs and promising Egos usually occupy the training ground because of its special properties. I''m not sure how much we can tell you, but let''s say the Wintermoon estate has been built at this location due to its special properties. Egos and the heirs can train there far more efficiently. Even Ulfhar was never given a chance to stay there to train. Our mission is to protect Lady Reeze and bring her safely to the Wintermoon estate.¡± Ulfhar nodded slowly, a waft of sadness spreading through his features before he continued, ¡°We are also supposed to train Lady Reeze for her future endeavors. Every Reeze family member must be strong and experienced enough to lead the Glacia Knight Order into battle against our foes in war times.¡± Percy recalled the young noblewoman¡¯s fight and how she lost focus and stumbled when the Pleacis appeared behind her. She missed an attack that could have killed the Pleacis instantly and was thus exposed to the Pleacis¡¯ deadly attack. Percy wasn¡¯t sure what the Staff of Leech did to unleash so much power, but the Artifact was powerful. The mana ball was certain to kill the Elite Demon, mutant or not if struck square in the chest or head. ¡°Loos like her training is a mess,¡± He murmured in a moment of utter silence, not registering that everything was silent. So, she is not only a girl of noble birth but also the heiress of the Reeze Dukedom? Poor citizens. They will suffer a lot. Melissa must have eavesdropped on Percy and the Glacia Knights because she smashed the carriage door open and stepped out, her cheeks puffed in anger. She shot him a deadly glare and stepped out of the carriage, a sword of ice forming in her hand, ¡°How dare you lowly peasant say that?! Ulfhar remained silent but studied Percy with a gaze that couldn¡¯t mean anything good. ¡°Apprehend him!!¡± Lady Reeze declared. ¡­ Percy saw a few Glacia Knights swallow hard as they looked at each other in uncertainty. It was at that moment that Percy realized his mistake. You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version. Why can¡¯t I keep my mouth shut? Obviously, they will follow their lady¡¯s command. They were trained to follow the Reeze family¡¯s orders and won¡¯t care about someone like me! Ulfhar got up and cleared his throat. ¡°Lady Reeze, I regret to inform you that Percy saved your life. Do you want ill rumors to spread? Raewood¡¯s people know of Percy¡¯s injury and that he travels with us. If we apprehend him now, your enemies will learn of your mistake and spread news. What would your father think if you ordered your savior¡¯s death?¡± The Glacia Knight Captain talked into Melissa¡¯s conscience, but Percy barely noticed anything. He felt a large hand on his shoulder, grasping it with an iron-tight grip. ¡°Please think before you speak. Ulfhar will help you this time, but he won¡¯t convince our lady to spare you whenever you ignore etiquette. Keep going like that, and you will die soon,¡± The old knight said. Percy nodded, his face drained of all blood. If he¡¯d learned one thing, it would be to listen to elderly people in occupations where most died young. The old knight might not be the strongest, but he was experienced and wise enough to avoid battles he could only lose. Melissa was silenced at the mention of her father. She glared at Percy but turned around and returned to the carriage. ¡°Good night, and sleep tight, my lady. Tomorrow, your training will resume!¡± A curse resounded through the carriage, but that was the last they heard from within. Ulfhar turned around, sighed deeply, and walked back to his seat. He sat down but didn¡¯t respond to Percy anymore. I messed up big time. He scratched the back of his head. ¡°Can someone tell me what I¡¯m allowed to do in a noble¡¯s presence and what I shouldn¡¯t do? I¡­am not very good with people, and it hasn¡¯t been that long since I tried changing¡­but nobles are still too much for me.¡± The old knight patted his shoulder and smiled encouragingly, ¡°Don¡¯t hesitate to ask away. It¡¯s always better to ask questions rather than make stupid mistakes.¡± ¡°First, you don¡¯t talk to a noble if he or she didn¡¯t tell or gesture to you to speak. Knights are slightly below most nobles ¨C some are nobles, but not all ¨C but above the average Gifted One. You have to talk politely to us when we reach the Wintermoon estate. Most Glacia Knights don¡¯t think highly of noble etiquette and won¡¯t say anything if you talk to us informally using our names, but you should be more careful in public. You are traveling with the Glacia Knight Order and Lady Reeze to the Wintermoon estate as an ordinary resident, a commoner¡­¡± The old knight looked at Ulfhar, who nodded slowly. He looked back at Percy and said, ¡°If you travel with us, we will have to give you a new story. Commoners are not accepted in the Wintermoon estate, but we cannot leave you behind like this. You saved Lady Reeze¡¯s life, and if news of how we left you to fend for yourself would spread, problems would arise. Nobody would be willing to give their lives for their nobles if we repaid kindness and courage with violence or by abandoning you in the wilderness.¡± That means? Percy was about to ask but remembered the old knight¡¯s words. He should keep his lips sealed for the time being and listen carefully. ¡°You are tough, tenacious, and brave. Your lack of skills and manners can be solved quickly,¡± Ulfhar tilted his head and stared intently at Percy, ¡°You are also a Cardist at the Elite Tier with a special Monster Card. I think selling you as a knight in training to others won''t be a problem. Or what do you think, Liam?¡± The old knight, Liam, smiled back at Ulfhar, ¡°That¡¯s what I thought. If we increase his rank a little and train him here and there, he would make a good knight. It¡¯s a shame we have only a few weeks to push his Tier up a rank or two. That will be a little difficult.¡± ¡°Oh. That won¡¯t be a problem,¡± Percy waved dismissively, the thought of becoming a knight excited him, even if it was only in name. He was too excited to notice that he spoke his thoughts aloud. ¡°Why won¡¯t it be a problem?¡± Ulfhar turned to Percy, but he couldn¡¯t answer. Lady Reeze, still unable to fall asleep, answered instead. ¡°Because that annoying kid has an Ego!¡± Percy swallowed hard. How?... Did she see me transform the Potion of Accelerated Regeneration? That must be it! He didn¡¯t remember everything that had happened when he woke up in the young noble¡¯s carriage because the pain had been too much to bear, but the snippets of memories showed him transform the Potion of Accelerated Regeneration into something much stronger. Nobody paid attention to Lady Reeze. She could eavesdropped as she pleased. It was not their business. Instead, the Glacia Knights stared at the tense youth. ¡°I cannot take back what I said just now¡­right?¡± Percy forced a smile on his lips, but nobody answered. ¡°So, it¡¯s true?¡± Ulfhar asked after a few seconds. ¡°That¡­depends if I will get punished or not¡­¡± Percy swallowed and felt much smaller under the intense stares of a dozen massive Glacia Knights. ¡°You¡¯re not getting punished. If anything, it will make everything easier for everyone if you have an Ego!¡± Liam laughed and slapped Percy¡¯s back with some force. Percy was shaken thoroughly but nodded. ¡°I do have an Ego, yes.¡± B1 Chapter 42 - Demonstration He didn¡¯t know what to expect to happen, but the Glacia Knights¡¯ reaction was the complete opposite. It was lackluster, for the lack of a better word. Ulfhar and his Glacia KNights asked some questions but also said he didn¡¯t have to answer anything if he wasn¡¯t comfortable. ¡°Your Ego¡¯s power and special abilities belong to you. They¡¯re your secret, and you should never feel you must tell anyone. Nobody has the right to force you to reveal your Ego to someone else,¡± Ulfhar reassured Percy. He looked like he had something else to say, but let it go, ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. If you can tell us as much as you¡¯re comfortable with, we will help you grow stronger. Because strength is what you need if you want to come with us to the Wintermoon estate.¡± The Glacia Knight Captain was excited and glanced more often to the carriage, licking his lips as if he anticipated the future. Why does it feel like I¡¯m being used for...something? Still, Percy felt good. It was the first time he had told someone about his Ego, and nobody said anything negative. His gut feeling, telling him to keep his Monster Card and Ego a secret at all costs, had been wrong. They knew about the Gnoll Card and didn¡¯t make a move when I was unconscious, and it doesn¡¯t feel like anything will change just because I revealed I have an Ego. Maybe that¡¯s the point. Everyone here is a Cardist, and Lady Reeze and Ulfhar have Egos. They¡¯re just like me. I guess revealing my Card and Ego to them isn¡¯t as special as it would have been in Raewood. Perhaps that was why Percy felt compelled to share. He felt a strong sense of belonging with the Glacia Knights, a feeling that they wouldn¡¯t attack him out of envy, but rather accept him as one of their own. ¡°We can just say we found an Ego on our way to the Wintermoon estate. That way, we can add him to Lady Reeze¡¯s retinue and train him. Lady Reeze can claim his honor if he achieves something, whereas our ladyship can vouch for him. That should solve all problems,¡± One of the Glacia Knights, Igor, smiled brightly, ¡°We won¡¯t have to reveal anything about the faux pas with the Pleacis and the Infernal Lair. Lady Reeze can earn merits for finding and hiring an Ego, and Percy can come with us without attracting any suspicion.¡± Ulfhar glanced at old knight Liam, who stared intently at him and sighed deeply, ¡°The Patriarch has to know about the Infernal Lair. We won¡¯t hide something like that from our lord!¡± Igor¡¯s lips parted, but he nodded. Their lord had to receive a report. The incident with the Infernal Lair was too important to ignore. Percy watched the exchange with interest and was secretly happy not to be the center of attention anymore. The dozen Glacia Knights¡¯ intense stare had been overwhelming. It had only been a few seconds, but that was enough for him. Putting his lack of social skills aside, Percy liked becoming a squire of the Glacia Knight Order. Knowing his future wasn''t etched in stone was nice even if it was merely in name and nothing official. As long as he didn¡¯t mess up here¡­he might be acknowledged as a member of the Glacia Knight Order in the future. If he worked hard enough, Ulfhar might discover some talent in him and recommend him to the higher-ups. Turning into a Glacia Knight would open many doors to wealth and power that would have been locked to a nobody like him otherwise. I need to give my best until we reach the Wintermoon estate. Once there, I might be able to grow even stronger. If I can gain the same benefits as the kingdoms¡¯ Imperials, I¡­ The corners of his lips tugged into a vibrant smile. The thought of growing stronger excited him, but imagining being more than just an Adventurer with an Ego sounded even better. He might not be a noble, but who said he couldn¡¯t become a Knight with the strength of an Imperial? I might as well make use of this. They don¡¯t seem particularly interested in my Ego and care about my comfort. Thus, Percy cleared his throat and unsheathed his iron dagger. The piece of metal hardly resembled its former deadly appearance, but the Glacia Knights¡¯ chats died, and they turned in unison to the youth. ¡°I can do this with my Ego,¡± Percy announced while using [Consume] to devour the iron dagger before everyone¡¯s eyes. The abomination, in its smallest form, manifested and shrouded the iron dagger in eternal darkness before it disappeared again. [Iron Dagger - Corrupted/Damaged - has been consumed. 49 Prosperity has been added.] The Glacia Knights couldn¡¯t see the notification, but that wasn¡¯t necessary. They saw what they had to see. ¡°I can consume anything in my possession, including slain monsters and the like, to progress faster. There are more twists to my power¡­but I want to wait a little bit before I reveal more. I have yet to discover my Ego¡¯s secrets. There are still many things I don¡¯t know.¡± Utter silence swept across the campfire for a few seconds before Igor cleared his throat. ¡°So¡­you can consume the Demon corpses as well? The others looked at each other and groaned, ¡°We shouldn¡¯t have burned the demon carcasses.¡± Liam looked at Ulfhar, who nodded slowly. He tapped the pouch hanging from his side, and a massive corpse appeared next to them. It was the Pleacis, dead, obviously. Percy jumped up in fright while the Glacia Knights chuckled. They enjoyed his reaction. Ulfhar unsheathed his longsword and severed the Pleacis¡¯ head before motioning to Percy, ¡°This is a Mutant Elite Demon. You can use it if you want. Show me how effective your power is!¡± ¡°I can¡¯t.¡± Percy shook his head. There was no interface, ¡°My Ego doesn¡¯t consider it my possession. You killed the Pleacis, so it¡¯s your prey.¡± This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. Ulfhar tilted his head but nodded, ¡°Hereby, I present you the Pleacis¡¯ corpse. You are to accept this carcass to protect Lady Reeze. Without your courageous act, we would have failed our mission.¡± The Glacia Knight Captain¡¯s first few words were already enough. Two interfaces, one for the Pleacis¡¯ head and one for the rest of its carcass, appeared before his eyes. ¡°It considers both the head and body as my possession,¡± Percy murmured. ¡°We need the head,¡± Ulfhar said immediately, and Percy nodded. Surprisingly, the interface belonging to the head disappeared. So¡­someone can gift me something but also retract their gift? That wouldn¡¯t work with transactions, though. Interesting. ¡°Are you sure I can take the carcass? Is it not too valuable to give me?¡± Percy asked, his eyes glimmering brightly. He was drooling at the sight unfolding before him. [Pleacis(Headless) ¨C Elite/Demonic/Mutant ¨C 156,035 Prosperity] ¡°The corpse would earn us some gold, but I¡¯m sure everyone here values Lady Reeze¡¯s life more than a few dozen silver coins or one gold coin,¡± Ulfhar said curtly while his gaze traveled to his companions. The Glacia Knights nodded, though one or two looked a little displeased. If possible, they would have stored the corpses of all demons in the spatial devices, but the Archyeas¡¯ carcasses released their demonic essence into the surroundings. Due to their demonic essence¡¯s special prosperity, they couldn¡¯t be stored and had to be burned. Thus, the Mutant Elite Demon was the only bonus they¡¯d gained on this mission. Nobody dared to say anything, fearing their complaints would unleash the seven hells upon them. ¡°Take it before my subordinates eat me alive,¡± Ulfhar laughed, and most Glacia Knights joined him. Only Percy remained silent as he nodded. He walked up to the headless carcass and activated [Consume]. His Ego reacted violently. It was as greedy as Percy. His hand cracked as a massive shroud of darkness gushed out of his hand. The abomination towered above the Pleacis carcass, revealed its rows of razor-sharp teeth, and crashed heavily into the lifeless demon, devouring it within seconds. The Glacia Knights had been calm and composed, smiling at Percy as they observed him eagerly approaching the demon corpse, but they tensed and jumped up when his Ego moved. Even Ulfhar unsheathed his broadsword as the abomination of his Ego swallowed the demon whole. They broke into a cold sweat in the middle of the night and stared at Percy, their eyes widened in terror and confusion as the darkness retracted into his palm. ¡°W-what was that?¡± One of the Glacia Knights asked, his legs giving in. His armor clattering as he fell was all that resounded into the silent night. ¡°You told me to consume it. That¡¯s what I did,¡± Percy responded, his innocent voice resounding, ¡°Did I do something wrong?¡± He was irritated, and the interfaces popping up before him didn¡¯t help. [Pleacis(Headless) has been consumed. 156,035 Prosperity has been added.] [Your Tier increased by one rank.] A flood of mana entered Percy¡¯s body without warning. It flushed through him with shocking intensity and occupied his body and mind. He wasn¡¯t sure how long he stood there but noticed everyone watching him with wide eyes. ¡°Can you hear us now?¡± Liam stood next to Percy and looked at the youth worriedly. ¡°...Yeah. The mana flood was a little intense, but I¡¯m fine.¡± ¡°You really ranked up,¡± Liam whispered, his eyes glimmering. ¡°I did.¡± Nobody talked with Percy about what had just happened or the fear all Glacia Knights had felt upon seeing his Ego at full power, but Percy could see something new in their eyes. The Glacia Knights didn¡¯t look at him like a greenhorn anymore. He was much more than a helpless youth after his demonstration. Percy was powerful. Igor eyed Percy vigilantly but did his best to smile when he gave him a bowl full of their leftovers. ¡°Thanks, but I think I¡¯m still fu¡ª...¡± The youth was interrupted by a small thunderous grumbling. His stomach denied what Percy had just said. The Glacia Knights burst into laughter, releasing their tension. Igor smiled and pushed the bowl to Percy. ¡°We have more food. Starting tomorrow, you can help us hunt and cook to do your part here. Don¡¯t worry about getting exploited. Every squire of the Glacia Knight Order would have to hunt, cook, and take care of everything else. You¡¯ll have to listen to us and follow our orders if you want to stay here,¡± He winked at Percy, whose lips parted for a rebuke. Learning how to cook cannot hurt, and it¡¯s not like I hate hunting. Hyean can help me track some monsters. I want to know how strong we are either way! ¡°Okay!¡± The atmosphere improved a lot through the night. Percy was too energetic to sleep after he emptied a few more bowls. More than half of the Glacia Knights decided to sleep while the group responsible for protecting their little camp for the next few hours chatted with him in whispers ¨C while watching their surroundings with sharp eyes, of course. Percy felt great. Having been kidnapped left a sour aftertaste, but that was long since forgotten. They saved him with several expensive potions and an even more expensive Healing Artifact. Being mad or angry at them wouldn¡¯t help anyone. If anything, it would harm his relationship with the Glacia Knights. That was not something Percy was willing to risk. Thus, he accepted his fate and asked numerous questions instead. At some point, the first rays of sunlight were already peeking across the expansive Meiso Plains, Percy asked one of the questions he was most interested in. ¡°If my guess is right, the rift was a portal connecting to one of the seven hells. That is what we call the Infernal Lair, right? But what exactly was the red marble that dropped when the Infernal Lair disappeared?¡± Ulfhar studied Percy for a while and retrieved the red marble he was talking about, ¡°Do you mean this?¡± Percy nodded slowly, his eyes drawn to the marble. Simultaneously, his Ego reacted. It wanted the marble. ¡°I¡¯m impressed you saw the marble. Most wouldn¡¯t have noticed it. But you are mistaken about one thing.¡± Ulfhar studied him, but when Percy remained silent, he just shrugged. ¡°The Infernal Lair is not merely the portal,¡± He pointed at the marble, ¡°This is a seed, the seed that grows into the Infernal Lair once nourished, to be precise.¡± Percy¡¯s hair stood up to its end, and his eyes widened. ¡°You¡¯re telling me we¡¯re traveling around with an Infernal Lair¡­in your pockets?!¡± B1 Chapter 43 - CopyCat The next few minutes felt like an eternity as Ulfhar explained in detail what exactly the Infernal Lair was and how it was used, but Percy was still having a hard time understanding everything. ¡°You carry a portal to the seven hells, just like that? The army of Archyeas was already troublesome to deal with. What if the portal opens again? Can¡¯t you destroy it?¡± He asked for the Xth time. ¡°The Archyeas were their scouts at best. The seven hells are far more dangerous than you can imagine,¡± Ulfhar shrugged lightly, ¡°But you don¡¯t have to worry about the Infernal Lair. Only demons can nourish the Infernal Lair seed with their Demonic Essence to grow it. Once it accumulates enough Demonic Essence, it can transform into a rift to the seven hells and establish a permanent anchor.¡± Percy paled again. He didn¡¯t know how many times he had done that in the last few minutes, but almost everything Ulfhar said sounded bad. ¡°I think you understand it now. We were lucky. The Infernal Lair wasn¡¯t ready for it. It didn¡¯t have enough time and Demonic Essence to mature properly. The Archyeas you saw a few weeks ago must have nourished the Infernal Lair with Monster Essence, hoping to call more of its kind to help nourish the Infernal Lair. Our greatest fortune was that the Infernal Lair collapsed after a few scouts and an Elite Demon emerged from it.¡± Percy nodded, only for Liam to add seriously, ¡°Destroying the Infernal Lair seed is possible, but the Duke has to see it. The problem with this seed is that the Infernal Lair was concealed. It¡¯s supposed to cost an enormous amount of Demonic Essence to conceal the Infernal Lair from the outside world. Yet, a single Archyeas infused enough Demonic Essence to do so? That shouldn¡¯t be possible.¡± The Glacia Knights, Ulfhar and Liam, continued talking seriously, but most of it went over Percy¡¯s head. His eyelids were heavy, and a wave of exhaustion spread through his flesh and bones. Time passed slowly, and Percy found himself dozing off. The embrace of sleep was strong, and he gave in to it. ** The next few days passed in the blink of an eye. Percy didn¡¯t know what awaited him, but the Glacia Knights shattered his expectations. They treated him nicely and explained everything thoroughly whenever he had a question, but they didn¡¯t pay as much attention to him as he thought. In the evening after the first day, he was a little disappointed. He didn¡¯t know what he had been hoping for, but there was no way Percy expected to be treated casually after exposing his Ego. The Glacia Knights¡¯ reaction when he consumed the Pleacis carcass had been too big to treat him casually like before. At least, that was what he had expected. His disappointment was visible on the second day, yet nothing changed. They treated him the same. His mood changed after the third day. He felt much better, as if a heavy stone lifted from his chest. Nobody treated him differently, even after his Ego was exposed. That confused him a little at first, but it was much better than a sudden change in their behavior. Percy would have hated it if the Glacia Knights treated him too well for no reason. There was no need to reach out to him with silk gloves. Percy stayed with the Glacia Knights and joined their daily training regime. The training was tiring but fulfilling. It didn¡¯t make sense why they trained so much on their way to the Wintermoon estate, but the training regime of the Glacia Knights turned out to be an excuse to lure Melissa out of her carriage. She joined the Glacia Knights¡¯ training without any complaints. It looked like she accepted her flaws because she trained harder and more than Ulfhar demanded. But that was necessary in Percy¡¯s opinion. Melissa had a heavy responsibility to carry as the heiress of a duke. She had to be the best at everything ¨C or at least try to be ¨C if she didn¡¯t want to see her ancestor¡¯s household collapse under her reign. Percy didn¡¯t join the Glacia Knights¡¯ training at first. He was forced to recuperate and told to study their training before doing anything. At last, three days passed, and Percy was given a sword to defend himself and join the training. The sword was one of Knight Liam¡¯s reserve swords and, thus, of considerable quality and value. That was also what the interface verified. [Tempered Silvron Sword ¨C Excellent Quality ¨C 5355 Prosperity] ¡°Treat it with great care and be mindful when you wield it. You can slay most Elite Monsters with a well-maintained Silvron Sword,¡± Knight Liam told Percy when he handed him the sword. Percy was surprised that Knight Liam was willing to give him such a valuable weapon, but it didn¡¯t take long before he realized every Glacia Knight had multiple reserve blades of the same type. Their main weapons were Artifacts, and they would only retrieve the Silvron Swords if their Artifacts shattered or during the training. But that didn¡¯t mean Knight Liam¡¯s gift meant anything less. Percy was overjoyed, especially with the tens of silverish-golden threads that waited eagerly to be augmented. The Tempered Silvron Sword had multiple options to be enchanted using his Ego, but Percy didn¡¯t augment his new weapon in any way. He might have enough Prosperity to let loose but was not yet ready to reveal his most important trump card. He grasped the Silvron Sword tightly and attended the knight training by following their movement sequences. Percy was slow at first but quickly realized something. [Blade Mastery] works on swords as well! Observing the Glacia Knights had already been weird, and now that he wielded the Silvron Sword to follow their movements, Percy understood what was going on. He had no problem following the Glacia Knights¡¯ movements. They wielded their swords smoothly, and so did Percy. At least, his mind followed the movements easily. His body, on the other hand, struggled a little bit more. The movements were unfamiliar, and getting used to the complex motions took a while. However, once he got used to them, Percy¡¯s eyes glimmered in excitement. This is amazing! But¡­I want more. Ulfhar and Melissa¡¯s movements are more graceful, smoother, and deadlier. Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon. This was only the first training session, and Percy progressed rapidly, but learning the basics of the Glacia Knights¡¯ movements was not enough for him. He wanted to be more like Ulfhar and Melissa. A flicker of ambition and determination flashed deep in his eyes, and he used [Consume] on Prosperity to check the Gnoll Card again. [Gnoll ¨C Healthy] [Name ¨C Hyean] [Potential: Common ??? ?] [Augmentation] [Blade Mastery??] [A Hunter¡¯s Smell?] [Minor Strength Boost?] They¡¯re glowing! Hyean¡¯s Potential and Augmentation tags were glowing like his runic enchantments glowed when Percy had enough Prosperity to unlock them! He licked his lips and proceeded, following his gut feeling. [150,000 Prosperity has been consumed] [Gnoll Card¡¯s Augmentation [Blade Mastery??] is overflowing with Prosperity. [Blade Mastery??] advances to [Blade Mastery???]] Hell yeah!!! Percy screamed in his mind while a familiar stream of foreign information flooded his mind. He raised the Silvron Sword with a vibrant smile and grasped the opportunity at its root. His eyes trailed between Ulfhar and Melissa, and he started moving. His gaze never left the duo, but his body moved. He swung the sword to the side and twisted the blade until Percy felt like his arm was about to tear apart before unleashing the accumulated momentum to spin around in a pirouette. He targeted a spot before him and released a fury of strikes and slashes, one deadlier than the others. The mana reserves in his body were utilized to the fullest as Percy realized that neither Ulfhar nor Melissa practiced their combat techniques without mana. He circulated mana through his body and tried to control it precisely. He dashed two meters ahead, stopped without warning, and slashed at the imaginary enemy before him. His sword hummed happily as the mana-infused blade cut through the air faster and faster. Percy moved left and right, twisted his body, and jumped to the side, evading imaginary attacks, which he countered with follow-up attacks or by using the enemy¡¯s momentum against them. He was not sure how much time had passed before he collapsed to the ground. His legs trembled violently, and his mana reserves cried in anger. Not a single trace of mana was left in his body. His stamina was drained as well. Nonetheless, Percy smiled from one ear to the other. I am not done yet! This is just the beginning¡­ He told himself while retrieving one of his Ego-augmented potions. Percy removed the cap absentmindedly while his eyes locked onto Melissa. The young noble might not be as experienced and smooth as Ulfhar, but her technique was different¡­stronger. Her icy gait and the freezing chill sweeping through the surroundings with every move were terrifying to watch. She will be stronger than Ulfhar in a few years¡­no. In a few months if the Imperials training is as terrifying as everyone says. The Imperials were the strongest force in the kingdom. They were the strongest of the strongest and had to be respected by everyone. From what Percy heard, even commonbirth Egos, who managed to become Imperials, had to be treated with great care by all nobles, including the dukes and their heirs. Becoming an Imperial as a commonbirth Ego was the greatest achievement, but it was also a heavy responsibility. I need more. Show me more, Melissa!! His vibrant smile never ceased. On the contrary, it widened when the strength in his arms and legs returned. His potion worked fast and gave him enough strength to get up and move again. His first motions were slow. He focused on Melissa¡¯s movements, the circulation of her mana, how much mana she exposed to the outside world to create the freezing hue around her, and other minor details Percy would have never noticed if he hadn¡¯t upgraded [Blade Mastery] to a three-star Augmentation. But now that he noticed them, Percy¡¯s understanding of Melissa¡¯s technique skyrocketed the longer he observed her. Almost ten minutes of utter silence passed before Percy¡¯s motions accelerated. He didn¡¯t go from zero to 100 immediately but went up by a gear slowly. Only a few minutes passed before Percy reached the limit of his body and mind. His body creaked, and the minuscule reserves of mana he¡¯d replenished from the potion were used up as well. Still, Percy was satisfied with himself. Your technique is mine now! He grinned and slowed down. His body screamed at him, but his grin widened. The Glacia Knights stared intently at him, their shock visible. If Percy had been the same youth as before, he would have been worried. However, Percy was more than he used to be. He didn¡¯t shy away from their shocked stares anymore. Only Melissa¡¯s stupefied expression surprised him a little. ¡°Do you have a death wish?!¡± She frowned deeply. Percy smiled, but only for a moment. He had been too excited to realize that Melissa didn¡¯t behave like her usual pampered and arrogant self. She was serious. Dead serious. What¡¯s wrong? ¡°I know you¡¯re stupid, but why in the seven hells would you try to copy my Inheritance technique right before my eyes and before the Glacia Knight Order? This Inheritance technique belongs to my bloodline. Nobody else is allowed to use it, Impbrain.¡± Percy didn¡¯t have an opportunity to respond, but even if Melissa were to pause and listen to him¡­what was he supposed to say? ¡®I have no idea what Inheritance techniques are or that you practiced one. Sorry for trying to steal your family¡¯s technique.¡¯ Yeah, that sounds stupid. I¡¯ve never seen her act like that, either. She is not joking around. The shocked expressions of the Glacia Knights made a lot more sense now, as well. Maybe they were surprised at how quickly he progressed, but they were the most shocked about his stupidity. Percy thought that until he saw the corner of their lips curl upward. They smiled at him in excitement! Wait a moment¡­. His gaze wanted Knight Liam and the Glacia Knight Captain, who were smiling at him as well. It was a fiendish smile. A smile that couldn¡¯t mean anything good. He noticed what I did and didn¡¯t say anything¡­No¡­They all knew!!! Percy swallowed hard. They tricked me. B1 Chapter 44 - Fighting a Noble Cold sweat poured down his temples as he stood there frozen. What am I supposed to do now? The Glacia Knights know what is going on¡­ They tricked me. He trusted the Glacia Knights only to be betrayed. But¡­why? Ulfhar cleared his throat and stepped between the youths. He lifted his hand calmingly, intervening before Melissa could say or do anything she would regret. ¡°He was in Trance and is thus not punishable for following some of your movements, Lady Reeze,¡± The Glacia Knight Captain says. Melissa¡¯s lips parted, but Ulfhar was not done, ¡°That means if we keep this a secret from anyone outside the Reeze household.¡± ¡°But why would I? He deliberately copied my Inheritance technique!¡± Melissa cursed, her sword tip pointed at Percy. I didn¡¯t do it deliberately. It was just¡­ Percy didn¡¯t even think about retorting to the young noble. He was on the losing side, no matter what. Lady Reeze could order his death as she pleased. That was a fact. ¡°I don¡¯t have the right to tell you what you should do, but the Glacia Knight Order would gain a powerful knight with little effort and resources. Or do you think he¡¯s not talented enough to become a Glacia Knight after copying and fusing parts of our techniques?¡± Melissa¡¯s lips parted, but she remained silent. She glared at Percy and blushed in anger. ¡°The Glacia Knights won¡¯t reveal what happened today to anyone other than our Lord. If you¨C....¡± ¡°Stop,¡± Melissa groaned and cursed quietly under her breath. Meanwhile, Ulfhar and the Glacia Knights had to hide their thin smiles, ¡°You planned this, didn¡¯t you? You told this fool everything he has to know except a few crucial facts about Inheritance techniques.¡± She looked over to Percy, the anger in her eyes slowly subsiding. ¡°Why did you do that?¡± Melissa asked the knight captain. ¡°I apologize, but I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about, your Grace,¡± Ulfhar bowed respectfully to Lady Reeze. ¡°If you are so clueless, how about I punish this peasant according to the imperial laws?¡± Melissa asked Ulfhar sharply, but the Glacia Knight Captain smiled in response. ¡°To punish Percy according to the imperial laws, you need to drag him to court. Of course, if he¡¯d attacked you or publicly revealed his comprehension of the Reeze family¡¯s Inheritance techniques, the situation would be different. But the Glacia Knights are loyal to the Reeze household. We are part of your household, and this incident can thus not be considered as Percy publicly humiliating you.¡± Melissa ground her teeth, her cheeks as red as a tomato. ¡°You¡¯re walking on thin ice, captain!¡± She cursed, but Ulfhar merely bowed. ¡°If you do not wish to drag Percy to the imperial court, which you do not want since the case would tarnish the Reeze family¡¯s reputation, you have two¡­maybe three options.¡± Melissa¡¯s eyes squinted into narrow slits. ¡°What options?¡± ¡°First, you kill him right here and there. The Glacia Knights wouldn¡¯t stop you,¡± Ulfhar said coldly, causing Percy to shudder involuntarily, ¡°But we would have to tell your father about this incident. The report would contain everything, including that Percy is an Ego with a special Monster Card and exceptional comprehension.¡± Percy swallowed hard, still not quite understanding where this was going. Melissa, on the other hand, sensed something was wrong. ¡°What are the other options.¡± ¡°You can forget about this incident, and we will keep quiet as well. Nothing will happen, and Percy will never copy your technique again¡­right?¡± Ulfhar turned to Percy at the last words. The youth could only nod vigorously, but he paled when Melissa shook her head. ¡°His actions are unforgivable!¡± Melissa clenched her fists and pointed her sword again at Percy. ¡°He has to be punished.¡± Can¡¯t you be a little bit more flexible¡­please? This is my life you¡¯re talking so casually about!! Ulfhar just nodded, ¡°That leaves us only with the third and last option. Challenge him.¡± ¡°Challenge?¡± Percy couldn¡¯t contain his voice anymore. His attention trailed between Ulfhar and Melissa, who didn¡¯t glare at him for voicing his confusion this time. Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. ¡°To death?¡± Melissa asked, but Ulfhar shook his head, ¡°No. This is going to be an Imperiat; a traditional fight without Artifacts, Monster Cards, or Egos. Two combatants and a pair of unenchanted swords.¡± The young noble grumbled but nodded. She didn¡¯t remove her armor but switched her sword Artifact with a Tempered Silvron Sword. ¡°If I win, I will punish you as I please,¡± Melissa said dead serious. She no longer paid attention to Ulfhar but added, ¡°That is within my rights when I win the Imperiat.¡± Percy stared at Ulfhar, his eyes widened in surprise as the Glacia Knight Captain nodded slowly toward Lady Reeze. ¡°And you will be the bigger person and forgive him if the Imperiat ends in a draw and your loss.¡± Do I have to do that? Was that their plan from the beginning? They¡¯re pushing me to fight Melissa¡­but why? Percy studied the Glacia Knights but couldn¡¯t detect any malicious intent from them. Quite the contrary, the Glacia Knights smiled encouragingly at him. Do they think I¡¯m going to win? No¡­What are they thinking? This is too much for me¡­ He swallowed hard but clutched the Silvron Sword tightly. He retrieved another potion and glanced at Ulfhar, who nodded slowly. ¡°You can replenish your stamina and mana first. The Imperiat is an honorable event between two combatants who¡¯ll fight fair and square.¡± ¡°Do I have to remove my Monster Card? I know we¡¯re not allowed to use it, but I have a passive Augmentation,¡± Percy pointed out while emptying his last pair of Ego-augmented potions. Since he was forced to fight Melissa, he would give his all. However, if he managed to end the Imperiat in a draw, Percy didn¡¯t want to hear any complaints from the young noble. ¡°Keep it. I¡¯m at a higher Rank than you, either way. It doesn¡¯t matter what Augmentations you have. You will lose!¡± Melissa hissed and brandished her sword. She changed into a combat stance and was ready to fight. I really have to do this, don¡¯t I? At least, I can use [Blade Mastery] and [Minor Strength Boost]... Percy also switched into a combat stance and took a few deep breaths to calm his nerves. Entering a fight, nervous and anxious, wasn¡¯t going to help him. He might as well have lost already. But he didn¡¯t want to lose. I¡¯m going to win. I saw her movements and the flaws in her style. The epiphany from upgrading [Blade Mastery] will be my victory! Percy was too deep in thought and didn¡¯t hear the countdown. Only Ulfhar¡¯s resounding ¡°Fight!¡± reached him, pulling Percy back to his senses. Everything happened way too fast. Percy happily upgraded [Blade Mastery] to a three-star Augmentation and used the foreign influx of information and empathy to improve his understanding of sword styles. Never did he imagine the situation would escalate like this. It was shocking. His only advantage was to be alive and that he had a chance to stay alive. All he had to do was win against the heiress of a duke. Great. Percy cursed in his mind, stirring the mana within him and commanding it to follow his will. The mana circulated through his body quickly and enhanced his strength and speed. However, Melissa was already before him, her sword flashing. Percy could barely intercept, lifting his sword to block her first attack when she accelerated again. She slashed him multiple times, moving much faster than Percy. Still, he managed to block three out of five attacks, whereas the last two scratched his shoulder and thigh. He groaned in pain, but his eyes glimmered bright like an ocean. His eyes first followed Melissa¡¯s blade, but his attention diverted to her wrists, arm, upper body, and eyes. The young noble¡¯s body language wasn¡¯t simple to decipher but the low mastery of her Inheritance technique certainly was. It was even easier to discover her flaws when she didn¡¯t use her Ego to unleash the full potential of her Inheritance technique. Percy breathed heavily within the first 60 seconds of the Imperiat, but the corner of his lips curled upward. Melissa accelerated, and her sword cut through his flesh on more than one occasion. Nonetheless, Percy sensed an opportunity. His understanding of the blade and meager knowledge of the Reeze family¡¯s Inheritance technique showed him exactly what he needed to know. She is not allowed to kill me! No. She doesn¡¯t want to kill me in the first place. He flashed a smile and made use of his only advantages. His delicate mana control, [Minor Strength Boost], and [Blade Mastery]. Percy kicked the ground hard enough to leave a deep imprint in the moist soil as he dashed forward. His blade flashed through the air, altering the trajectory of Melissa¡¯s first attack. Her blade scratched his cheek, but the pain was all the more reason to end this fight before anything worse could happen. No one was allowed to be killed during the Imperiat. But¡­did that mean no one could attempt it? Percy ignored the voice in his head and unleashed the bloodlust of the Gnoll through his body. Melissa tensed up at the sudden change and twisted her blade. However, she was a quarter of a second too late and responded instinctively to the threat to her life. Before Percy could lift his blade to deal a killing blow, the scenery around Melissa changed drastically. The temperature decreased by several degrees at once, and it dropped further as a glacier-blue reptile''s head emerged from Melissa¡¯s chest. The reptile, a glacier-blue Lizard, appeared in its full might before Melissa and protected her master. It roared at Percy or would have if he was still where he had been a moment ago. Percy wasn¡¯t a fool. He left close combat immediately after he unleashed the Gnoll¡¯s bloodlust through his body and avoided getting killed by Melissa, her summoned Monster, or her Glacia Knights. The Glacia Knights had already unsheathed their weapons, ready to protect their lady, but that wasn¡¯t necessary. Their reaction was fast, but Percy was prepared for that and acted thus much faster. ¡°Your instincts are great, Lady Reeze,¡± Percy bowed deeply toward Melissa, who stared at him wide-eyed and sheathed his sword, ¡°But you lost.¡± He smiled at the roaring lizard and the chilly hue coating Melissa¡¯s body. ¡°You used your Ego and a Monster Card!¡± B1 Chapter 45 - Tricked The lizard hissed angrily and stomped toward Percy. Its tail smashed heavily onto the frozen ground, breaking it apart. No matter how I look at this. You are not a lovely Common Monster! Percy swallowed hard, not noticing that his clothes were already drenched in sweat. His full attention lingered on the three-meter-long lizard. Its maw opened widely, and the surrounding temperature dropped even further as it spit out glacier-blue flames that froze everything they touched. If Percy hadn¡¯t retreated further, he would have been struck by the flames and frozen solid within seconds. Hello? Someone, please?!? Ulfhar noticed his helpless gaze, but he glanced at Melissa instead. ¡°You cheater! I don¡¯t acknowledge this. I am not done yet!!¡± She exclaimed, her cheeks flushed in anger. The Glacia Knight Captain sighed and intervened at last, ¡°Actually. The Imperiat is over.¡± Melissa¡¯s eyes widened slightly when the words resounded. ¡°But he¡­¡± She grit her teeth and glared at Percy. No matter how Melissa looked at this situation, Percy won. She instinctively used her Ego and Monster Card, even if it hadn¡¯t been necessary. But even if she didn¡¯t use her Ego and Monster Card, Melissa had to acknowledge she didn¡¯t expect Percy to block this many attacks. Melissa Reeze had been trained for years as the rightful heiress of the Reeze dukedom. The best of the best had trained her since she could remember. Yet, Percy, a mediocre swordsman, saw through her attacks and blocked the deadliest attacks. He accepted their difference in strength, speed, and experience and fought her, knowing it was impossible to block all attacks. Percy had to sacrifice his health and safety merely to avoid getting crippled after Melissa¡¯s initial attacks. But his sacrifices were also how he emerged victorious. Percy saw through her moves and blocked the slashes and cuts that would have damaged his vitals and avoided other dangerous blows while accepting the portion of attacks that wouldn¡¯t affect his combat prowess. He breathed heavily and was covered with over a dozen light to mild wounds, but Percy was still standing. His counterattack had been unexpected as well, especially his bloodlust. Melissa had never sensed this much bloodlust from an ordinary human. The only times she sensed bloodlust like that was when she saw Gifted Ones who lost themselves in the lust of battle and blood and when the Pleacis attacked her. She shuddered at the memory and nibbled on her lower lip. Melissa took a deep breath and unsummoned the lizard. ¡°Did you use the Gnoll¡¯s bloodlust?¡± Percy didn¡¯t answer, but that was enough to answer her question. Melissa was forced to take a few more deep breaths. She was unwilling to give up like that, but Ulfhar and the Glacia Knights studied her intently. I am a noble. I don¡¯t break my promises. My words are worth more than gold! ¡°I¡­for-forgive you¡­¡± Melissa, her girth teeth, ¡°However!! I will behead you the moment I see you using my family¡¯s inheritance technique again! There will be no Imperiat, nothing!!¡± The young noblewoman cursed quietly when the corners of Pecy¡¯s lips curled upward, and she turned and walked back to the carriage before changing her mind. Percy burst into a bright smile when Melissa returned to the carriage. He survived. Unfortunately, his joy was quickly taken when a firm hand landed on his shoulder, pressing on one of the deeper wounds. He turned to see Knight Liam smiling at him. A glass vial flung through the air, and Percy caught it as smoothly as a young man with more than a dozen cuts all over his body could move. What does he want from me? They tricked me¡­ No, there is more to it. They don¡¯t want to get rid of me. He saw something in Knight Liam¡¯s eyes and followed his gut feelings. Please don¡¯t let that be a mistake. This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Percy cleared his throat, his eyes following the young noble as she entered the carriage. ¡°Can we spar again, Lady Reeze?¡± Melissa didn¡¯t turn back and cursed quietly but didn¡¯t say no. Percy could have sworn that Melissa¡¯s mouth twitched, imitating a faint smile before the coachman closed the carriage door. ¡°Why did you ask that?¡± Knight Liam asked quietly as Percy removed the glass vial¡¯s cap with a satisfied smile. He didn¡¯t answer right away but emptied the minor healing potion in one go while his eyes narrowed to tiny slits. He swallowed the sweet, viscous liquid and said nothing for a few seconds. ¡°I think it¡¯s better to be on good terms with Lady Reeze. The Imperiat might not be considered a casual spar ¨C I still don¡¯t know what exactly the Imperiat entails. I apologize for that ¨C but I understand her a little bit better than before. She has a heavy responsibility to carry at such a young age, and the mixture of pressure, anxiety, responsibility, arrogance, and so forth is not doing her good. Maybe sparring with someone around her age, though less talented, will help her destress a little. As long as I don¡¯t die, I should be fine. I will learn a lot and grow stronger as well. I want to be on good terms with the future Duchess of the Reeze dukedom if possible. Making her an enemy would be my death sentence. Other than that, I want to reach the Wintermoon estate with an intact body. As long as Lady Reeze doesn¡¯t hate me, I should have a good chance of receiving permission to attend the Imperial training. Maybe that is a little far-fetched, but I can always hope, can¡¯t I?¡± He smiled and shrugged helplessly. ¡°Currently, we¡¯re not on good terms, but¡­I don''t know. Maybe she is not all that bad if the Glacia Knights like her. They treat her like family. And...Lady Reeze seems to love her family. So that is probably why she was adamant about punishing me for copying some of her movement sequences. Lady Reeze wants to make her family proud and to be recognized for her actions. I can see her eyes glimmer whenever Ulfhar mentions her father. I¡­don¡¯t know how that is, but I understand the sentiment¡­I think¡­ If I am honest, I¡¯m not that good with family things, love¡­or anything. Not too long ago, I was struggling to fill my stomach. Everything around me is changing so fast, and all I¡¯m hoping for is to¡­find a place somewhere. A place where I can grow¡­a place where others accept me for who I am¡­¡± Percy halted and shut his mouth when he heard his voice crack. His voice cracked a few times, and his eyes got wet. What is wrong with me? He shook his head to disperse the thoughts tormenting his mind and looked at Knight Liam, trying to hide the outburst of emotions wreaking havoc within him. He didn¡¯t know how many weeks he had left before they reached the Wintermoon estate, but Percy knew that his relationship with Lady Reeze had to change. Ulfhar and the Glacia Knights accepted him for who he was, and if not for their trickery, he would have loved to become a knight of the Glacia Knight Order as soon as possible. Finally, Melissa was powerful¡­and beautiful. Her exterior was beautiful, and so was her execution of power. It was just that her inside was¡­difficult. Or maybe he didn¡¯t know her well enough. ¡°You can tell us your story when you¡¯re ready. Until then, how about you officially join our training?¡± Ulfhar asked when nobody dared to say anything. Everyone stared at Percy, countless thoughts flashing through their minds. ¡°Why did you do that?¡± Percy asked Ulfhar instead of answering once he got his emotions under control. The Glacia Knight Captain smiled at the youth, which didn¡¯t help Percy¡¯s turmoil of emotions. ¡°Do you want Lady Reeze to hate me even more, or why did nobody tell me about the Inheritance technique?¡± Ulfhar was still smiling, but Knight Liam nudged him on the side. ¡°Don¡¯t be like that. He will hate us if you keep up this annoying farce.¡± Ulfhar laughed and patted his old friend¡¯s back. His smile didn¡¯t cease, but his presence became more serious once he was done laughing. ¡°I don¡¯t have to tell you my reasoning, and I won¡¯t tell you everything. Just know that I was curious. Interested to see how you will handle Melissa,¡± He said in a serious tone. ¡°She is nice and quite strong for her age. You didn¡¯t even see a quarter of her power yet. But you must have noticed that Lady Reeze is young and inexperienced. She never fought to death before meeting you. The Pleacis was the first creature to attack her with the intent to kill her, and as you¡¯ve predicted, she has yet to overcome that trauma. Your bloodlust wasn¡¯t anything special. It was lackluster, at best, yet it was more than enough to push Melissa. The memories of the Pleacis resurfaced, and she responded instinctively by summoning the Glacia Lizard and activating her Ego.¡± ¡°So¡­you wanted to see if the fight with the Pleacis traumatized her and how bad the trauma is? And, of course, to treat me like a living experiment¡­great!¡± Percy clenched his fists tightly. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to win the Imperiat. That was out of my expectations. I was curious to see you fight, but I was more interested in Melissa¡¯s judgment. I wanted to see how she would punish you.¡± That doesn¡¯t make it better. I liked you, Ulfhar, you know!? ¡°Don¡¯t look at me like that. I was going to intervene and stop her from punishing you. Her father gave me the necessary permission and documents to teach Melissa. As her teacher, I have some special privileges, you know?¡± Ulfhar winked at Percy, who cursed the man in his mind. No, I don¡¯t know. I know nothing. Shouldn¡¯t that be obvious after spending four days answering questions with me?! No matter how much he disliked the Glacia Knight Captain¡¯s reasoning and actions, Percy silently acknowledged that he had learned a lot in a short time. ¡°I will join your training, but please don¡¯t trick me again..¡± Percy grumbled Trick me again, and I will ensure the entire kingdom hates the Glacia Knight Order and your lord! I will copy the Inheritance techniques of all nobles in the Wintermoon estate and say it was Duke Reeze¡¯s order!! B1 Chapter 46 - A Knights Training The Glacia Knight Captain was going to be Percy¡¯s doom. No sooner than he joined the knights¡¯ training, Percy was ordered around. The Glacia Knights explained their training regime in great detail and enjoyed watching him suffer as he copied their movement sequences. They weren¡¯t shy about calling out his flaws and punishing him for every wrong move. Calling it punishment was probably a little far-fetched, but being forced to repeat every wrong move dozens of times until it was imprinted into his mind certainly felt like a punishment to Percy. He didn¡¯t even think about acknowledging how efficient the knight training was. You guys are excited, aren¡¯t you? Just wait until I¡¯m stronger than all of you. I will spar and defeat every single one of you! Even though Percy threatened the Glacia Knights in his head, the training intensity didn¡¯t decrease. On the contrary, the training got worse after the first day. The intensity increased drastically, pushing Percy to his limits and beyond. Whenever he thought he was at his limit and would collapse at any moment, Ulfhar and the Glacia Knights demonstrated how much more potential was hidden within his body. The following days passed in the blink of an eye, and the torture of training several hours a day under the constant scrutiny of a dozen professionally trained knights transformed into excitement. His appearance changed slowly, thanks to the constant training, the addition of highly nutritious meals, and the constant use of mana, which further accelerated the changes happening to him. His muscles were firmer than they used to be, and he gained weight. It was only a matter of months before his shoulders would be as broad as some knights¡¯, but that was not his main goal. Percy felt good about his body, especially how easily mana coursed through him. His mana reserves didn¡¯t expand after his last up-rank, but he learned to control his mana more freely. That was necessary to treat the soreness spreading all over his body after every training session, but also to spar with the Glacia Knights. Their mana control was precise, but Percy was surprised to learn that his mana was not only stronger but also more precise. According to Ulfhar, Percy¡¯s mana control was so high due to his Ego. Apparently, his Ego improved his control over mana and mana purity. Percy had more questions for Ulfhar, but the Glacia Knight Captain was busy protecting and teaching Melissa. When he didn¡¯t teach Melissa, he was out with the other Glacia Knights to clear some monster lairs or to meet with the Glacia Knights to discuss their next course of action. The training sessions of the Glacia Knights decreased slowly as the days passed. That only applied to the Glacia Knights. Percy¡¯s fate was sealed on the fourth day as the Glacia Knights'' training stopped entirely. They stretched a little in the morning but stayed ready and in peak condition to fight potential enemies. Since the Glacia Knights didn¡¯t have to train, their focus diverted to Percy, whom they pushed further. They had fun watching him sweat and struggle while Percy wasn¡¯t given any big breaks. The Glacia Knights would rather feed him with potions than let him rest for too long. Percy understood that he improved quickly because of their expenses and the Glacia Knights¡¯ efforts to push him beyond his limit, but he loathed them a little nonetheless. At least they apologized for tricking me. If not for that, I would have added you to my blacklist!! He joked in his mind before collapsing to the ground. The Glacia Knights pushed the responsibility for their trickery to Ulfhar, who grumbled something incomprehensibly before he accepted his fate. There seemed to be things Ulfhar didn¡¯t want to say or acknowledge, but Percy was fine with that. Everyone apologized and reasoned with him, and it wasn¡¯t like he had lost a lot. Percy was still alive and stronger than ever. Stronger than he ever expected to be. But why are Ulfhar and Liam looking at me so often? Percy noticed that the old knight and the Glacia Knight Captain looked into his eyes more often these days, even when he was busy with other stuff. They weren¡¯t trying to get his attention or talk to him. All the two did was look at his eyes¡­not him. It was almost like they were looking for something. Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. It is not like anyone here is normal. Igor has this weird relationship with his Dachshund. It¡¯s impossible to separate them. Then there is Liam. He is old and should have retired already, yet he travels around the kingdom with the heiress, who is also a difficult case in her way. Ulfhar is kind but also a jerk. He doesn¡¯t speak his mind and tries to explain things without revealing his honest opinion. Everyone¡¯s behavior was unique and weird sometimes, but that didn¡¯t stop Percy from befriending them. His relationship with everyone, including Melissa Reeze, improved. Melissa started training more intently once the Glacia Knights stopped training. She focused on her Inheritance technique and often trained with Ulfhar, who pointed out her flaws, but Percy also found her paying more attention to him. The days passed, and Percy glanced in the young noble¡¯s direction whenever he was praised for something. He improved fast and Melissa grit her teeth whenever someone complimented his achievements. That was a pleasant sight. His improvement rate was fast enough to earn him lots of praise, which provoked Melissa. At least, that was what he thought. Maybe it¡¯s too shameful for her image to have lost against a commoner in the Imperiat. Percy told himself not to think too much about it, but inwardly, he was overjoyed to get on Melissa¡¯s nerves with his progress. She was annoying, but Percy quickly noticed that his desire to exceed her fueled him. Melissa was in a similar situation. She didn¡¯t want Percy to grow stronger until he would inevitably be stronger than her. As a noble and the heiress of the Reeze Dukedom, she had to be stronger¡­better. Despite their differences and the few words they exchanged, Percy and Melissa trained together most of the day. They were together at all times and improved rapidly together. Though reluctantly, their ambition and determination were noticed by the other and acknowledged. ** It was the early afternoon of the 8th day after Percy joined the knight training when Igor and Liam approached them. ¡°Dexter tracked a group of Ogres less than two kilometers ahead,¡± Igor said with a smile, ¡°Do you want to see how much you¡¯ve improved?¡± ¡°I would love to go hunting!¡± Percy dashed to the knight with a bright smile. The Dachshund monster barked, but Percy ignored Dexter. ¡°I will join as well,¡± Melissa declared, wiping her forehead with a piece of cloth. You don¡¯t have to come. Percy grumbled inwardly but the thought of hunting excited him too much to stay in a bad mood. ¡°Please take the lead, Lady Reeze.¡± Melissa shook her head after a moment, ¡°You and Dexter can take the lead. I¡¯m not familiar with this place, and you have Dexter to communicate with. He can lead us to the Ogres.¡± Percy noticed Knight Liam nodding his head faintly. Melissa had not yet dispelled the trauma inflicted by the Pleacis. She trained tirelessly to overcome her trauma, but only real combat could solve her issues. Melissa knew that fighting a bloodthirsty creature like the Pleacis was her only way to regain her calm and confidence before reaching the Wintermoon estate. Nonetheless, she was unwilling to risk everyone¡¯s life leading the group when her inner demon, the disaster with the Elite Demon, still tormented her wherever she went. The Pleacis followed her even into her dreams. It was long since dead, but the Elite Demon might as well be alive to Melissa. Is it just me, or is she afraid? Percy studied Melissa for a few seconds. She left the group to change into her armor and readied her other Artifacts as well. Everything looked normal from an outsider¡¯s point of view, but Percy was not an outsider anymore. He trained next to Melissa long enough to learn some of her traits. The lifetime of teachings she received as a noble showed clearly. Engraved deep into her mind and bones, Melissa didn¡¯t show her true feelings on the outside. She was a true noble and didn¡¯t reveal the slightest weakness, not even to the Glacia Knights, let alone a commoner like Percy. But despite her best efforts to show how strong and flawless she was, minor details showed her true feelings: how nervous the young noble was. Melissa nibbled on her lower lip when she thought nobody was looking, and she pulled longer on her clothes to ¡®straighten¡¯ them than she would normally. Her hand rested on the pommel of her sword, which was also quite unusual for the young noblelady. She was tense and might not even notice that, but for someone who had been around her, studying her for a while to learn how to grow stronger than her, Melissa was uncomfortable. Today marked the first hunt after the disaster with the Infernal Lair and the Pleacis. ¡°Alright. Let¡¯s go hunt some Ogres!¡± B1 Chapter 47 - Ogres They heard the Ogres before they saw the small group of humanoid monsters trashing each other to reach a carcass. The Ogres, green-skinned, with disproportional huge heads, were close to three meters tall and wielded small tree trunks, which they used to hit each other. They looked skinnier than Percy expected from Ogres, revealing their firm muscles underneath the thin layers of fat. ¡°Good. They¡¯re the inferior version,¡± Percy heard Melissa mumble. The Glacia Knights, six of the dozen who¡¯d joined the hunt, unsheathed their swords slowly and spread out to execute a perfect pincer attack. ¡°You two will team up and deal with at least one Ogre. Don¡¯t use your Monster Cards!¡± Knight Liam told Melissa and Percy, who stared blankly at the old knight. It would be too easy with our Cards, and we wouldn¡¯t learn anything. Percy nodded slowly, but Melissa paled a little. He walked up next to her and smiled encouragingly. ¡°Do you want me to distract them while you prepare one of your large icicles, or do you want to use the freezing enchantment of your sword, Lady Reeze?¡± Melissa glanced at him and took a deep breath. ¡°I don¡¯t like you.¡± Percy raised an eyebrow, ¡°Okay?¡± ¡°But not because of the reason you think. You don¡¯t have any responsibilities to shoulder, and you can do whatever you want.¡± It was the first time Melissa spoke to him honestly and composed. She unsheathed her sword and skulked past a small tree line toward the closest Ogre. ¡°I don¡¯t have any responsibilities,¡± Percy mumbled, ¡°That¡¯s true¡­but I don¡¯t have a family I love more than anything.¡± His words were no more than a whisper, but Melissa heard him. She turned to him momentarily, and Percy could have sworn a faint smile would blossom. ¡°You are an odd one.¡± That goes right back to you. ¡°I¡¯m going to charge the Ogre and taunt it. There is no way the Ogre will make it through my defense. You would break like a twig,¡± Melissa¡¯s expression twisted, recalling how Percy blocked the Pleacis¡¯ attack. The gaping hole in Percy¡¯s chest might have healed, but the image of the hole in his chest and the puddle of blood forming around him was still imprinted in Melissa¡¯s mind. ¡°I will follow your lead,¡± Percy said subconsciously, which earned him another faint smile from the young noble. A few seconds later, they reached the Ogres and got into position. The Glacia Knights were also in position and gestured to each other. A moment later, a roar escaped the lips of the Glacia Knights, and they charged ahead. The five battered Ogres turned to the Glacia Knights and roared in excitement. They split up and charged left and right, raising their tree trunk bats to squash their new toys. Melissa kicked the ground and shot toward the slowest Ogre with shocking velocity. Her body released a freezing hue, freezing the ground wherever she stepped as she accelerated. Her sword glowed azure as she appeared beside the Ogre, who sensed the mana fluctuations. However, instead of paying attention to the mana fluctuations, the creature swatted to his left using the tree trunk before charging ahead. Melissa¡¯s eyes narrowed. The Ogre didn¡¯t even look in their direction. It focused on the Glacia Knights just like its brethren. That was a mistake. The young noble dove to the side, evading the tree trunk, and jumped up after a smooth roll on the ground. She slithered across the freezing ground, but that was intentional. She was already familiar with the environmental effects of her Ego and learned how to use it to her advantage. Melissa appeared next to the Ogre and slashed at the creature¡¯s extended arm with all her might. A magnificent azure-blue arc whizzed through the air, followed by the Ogre¡¯s arm. Melissa severed it in one go, depriving the Ogre of its weapon arm and the tree trunk in one go. The [Frostblade] enchantment of her Sword Artifact was active and froze the Ogre¡¯s arm stump before it could start regenerating. Nonetheless, the Ogre noticed what happened. It roared in pain and looked at its puny attacker for the first time. Melissa broke into a cold sweat when the Ogre¡¯s wrath-filled eyes stared down at her. The monster¡¯s bloodlust enveloped the young noble, who froze for a quarter of a second. A quarter of a second wasn¡¯t long, but that was everything the Ogre needed to gather enough momentum to reach Melissa with its remaining arm. Its intact arm swiped horizontally and threatened to crash hard into Melissa when Percy shot past her, wielding the Silvron Sword in one hand and the enchanted Gnoll Blade in his other hand. ¡°Calm down, please,¡± He muttered to Melissa with a smile when he appeared before her. This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. A few weeks ago, Percy would have considered this move suicidal. Precisely, he had done something very similar and was nearly killed. But Percy wasn¡¯t the same weak kid he used to be. He was stronger and more experienced. He channeled enough mana into the Silvron Sword until it hummed while doing the same with the Gnoll Blade, except that he activated its [Sharpness] enchantment. Thereafter, Percy circulated the remaining mana in his reserves through his body and changed into a defensive stance. His feet dug deep into the wet soil, and the muscles all over his body bulged. I can do this! He screamed in his mind as he crossed his weapons to block the incoming hand. The Ogre swatted horizontally, its hand instinctively wide open to cover more area. The creature¡¯s hand impacted and crashed heavily into one of the targets, but its enemy wasn¡¯t hurled through the surroundings. On the contrary, Percy was merely pushed back, leaving behind a trail on the ground. Simultaneously, his mana-infused weapons dug into the Ogre¡¯s palm. Once the Ogre¡¯s momentum was taken, Percy made his move. He twisted the Gnoll Blade in the Ogre¡¯s wrist and ripped it out smoothly as he ducked under the creature¡¯s arm. A quick series of slashes, thrusts, and cuts, replicating a short but impactful sword dance, followed suit. Why is that thing so tough? My arms are numb, and the Gnoll Blade cannot dig deeper. Not even [Sharpness] is enough at this point. The Gnoll Blade was a low-quality weapon and couldn¡¯t even salvaged by the [Sharpness] enchantment. It was good enough to deal with Gnolls and other Common Monsters and maybe even to deal considerable damage to the Archyeas, but Ogres were tougher than that. Good thing they gave me a proper weapon. The Tempered Silvron Sword, despite not being an Artifact, did considerable damage to the Ogre. Unfortunately, the Ogre¡¯s natural regeneration was too fast. The first cuts stopped bleeding when Percy¡¯s short sword dance ended. The Ogre turned to Percy, its eyes filled with even more rage than before, and it attacked. But before it could reach him, Percy¡¯s expression changed drastically. He stared at the Ogre with a shit-eating grin. A moment later, a massive icicle whizzed through the air and hit the Ogre square in its face. The icicle¡¯s tip pierced through one eye and dug deeper into the Ogre¡¯s skull until Percy heard Melissa mumble, ¡°Shatter.¡± The icicle shattered into countless tiny fragments that splattered in all directions. Percy had to retreat to avoid a barrage of the high-velocity fragments, and he shuddered as he imagined what the Ogre¡¯s skull must look like from the inside after the fragments wreaked havoc. The Ogre didn¡¯t growl or groan anymore. It fell over with a resounding thud and never moved again. ¡°Decent distraction,¡± Melissa commented before gesturing to him to continue. The fight was not over yet! Unfortunately, it didn¡¯t take much longer for the fight to end. The remaining Ogres collapsed lifelessly to the ground, either beheaded or their hearts pierced cleanly and their chests frozen solid. No matter how strong Ogres are¡­.once you get through their tough hide and stop them from regenerating, they¡¯re easy prey. Percy would have an incredibly hard time killing an Ogre at this point. His equipment wasn¡¯t all that great, and even if he injured the Ogre, it could regenerate. Percy would have to pierce its brain or rip its heart out if he wanted to kill a creature like the Ogre. Everything else would be too little. Percy looked over to the Glacia Knights. He studied their equipment and the runic enchantments engraved on them and winced quietly. I have to start using my Ego to gain an advantage. Melissa can use her Ego in combat, but I can¡¯t. Not properly, at least. That means I need to start using it to increase my combat prowess and chances of survival. So what if someone can see me enchant my equipment using my Ego? He grit his sword tightly until the white of his knuckles was visible. The Ogre fight didn¡¯t last long, but his contribution was the lowest. If not for Melissa, he would have died. Percy turned to Melissa, but she was already talking to Liam. ¡°Let¡¯s get back to the carriage,¡± She ordered the Glacia Knights, who stared at her for a few seconds before their gazes moved to the Ogre corpses. Is she not going to store them? Percy wondered, and he wasn¡¯t alone in his thoughts, but nobody dared speak their minds. Melissa noticed their stares and scoffed, ¡°I don¡¯t have any space left. I don¡¯t care whether you carry them on your back or leave them behind.¡± The Glacia Knights winced but didn¡¯t even consider carrying the Ogre carcasses back to the carriage. They still had some days of traveling left and wouldn¡¯t be able to preserve the corpses that long, either way. In the first place, their bodies were too heavy to carry without a designated spatial device. Some Glacia Knights murmured in dissatisfaction, but Knight Liam raised an eyebrow and glanced at the young lady before his eyes averted to Percy. Other Glacia Knights followed the old knight¡¯s gaze, but nobody said anything. Her spatial ring is not full! There was no interface before him, but Percy knew what this meant. He swallowed hard as he watched the Glacia Knights leave the Ogre corpses behind. Percy approached the closest corpse and pressed his palm against it. This is¡­ [Inferior Ogre ¨C Mature(Malnourished) ¨C 13,592 Prosperity] His eyes widened, and he looked back to Melissa, who glanced at him from the corner of her eyes at the same moment. She diverted her attention in a hurry, but Percy noticed her nonetheless. Maybe she is not as bad as I thought. He thought as he walked across the battlefield to claim possession of all corpses that had been left behind and ¡®abandoned.¡¯ Percy smiled from one ear to the other, happy to have joined Melissa¡¯s retinue. Whether it was permanent or only temporary didn¡¯t matter at this moment. He was happy, and that was all that mattered. [5x Inferior Ogres have been consumed. 68,345 Prosperity has been added.] B1 Chapter 48 - Avians Percy was overjoyed on their trip back. The surrounding environment felt much more vibrant to the happy youth, who realized only now how far they had traveled. One day ago, the carriage left the Meiso Plains¡¯ outskirts. They entered the Moonlight Forest, the extensive forest they¡¯d avoided for the last few weeks. The surroundings had changed drastically now that Percy paid more attention to them. The trees of the Moonlight Forest were closer than before, while the vigorous undergrowth at the outskirts hid the mysteries and dangers of the forest. There was only one major trail used in the Moonlight Forest. Unsurprisingly, it was the path leading to the Wintermoon estate. Percy took a deep breath and absorbed the wild mix of scents in his nose and smiled even brighter as they returned to the carriage. The Moonlight Forest is full of life and magic. There should be some natural treasures! ¡°Can we harvest magical herbs while traveling through the Moonlight Forest?¡± Percy asked Knight Liam, ¡°I asked Igor, but it looks like Dexter is better at searching for monsters and demons than magical herbs. It would be a little bit problematic to run through the Moonlight Forest without a guide or plan.¡± ¡°I have some experience with common and rare herbs. I collected magical herbs like Paresis Doom and Inviar Eclipse Mercurialis before. My Gnoll is much more special than you might think,¡± Percy tapped his nose and smirked at the old knight. ¡°Your monster has a good nose, you say? I can talk to Ulfhar, but I doubt he wants us to leave the tracks to the Wintermoon estate until we arrive. The Moonlight Forest is a lot more dangerous than the Meiso Plains or your little forest. Even the Archyeas wasn¡¯t as dangerous as some things in the Moonlight Forest.¡± Percy wasn¡¯t satisfied, but he could live with Knight Liam¡¯s answer. Either way, they would fight a lot in the next few days. His Prosperity was bound to increase. Thinking about his Prosperity, Percy tilted his head. The Ogres weren¡¯t as strong as the Pleacis, but does it make sense that a single Pleacis is worth more than 10 Ogres? The Pleacis was a Mutant, but is that enough to justify the massive haul of Prosperity I gained from consuming it? Maybe the Pleacis¡¯ body is more valuable because of certain body parts. And it was a demon. The corrupted Berserk Rabbits were more valuable than normal Berserk Rabbits, according to my Ego¡­though Erdwin said the corrupted Berserk Rabbits are worthless. The demon¡¯s corpse pushed his progress to the next rank as much, if not more than it had been the case with the Adventurers. Recalling how he lost control of his Ego wasn¡¯t nice, but learning more about his Ego was interesting. ¡°Hunting Demons might be better than expected.¡± Their little hunting group returned to the carriage, where something unexpected awaited them. The Glacia Knights were under attack! A group of avians attacked the horses, pulling the carriage. Some horses had already been injured, forcing the coachman and some Glacia Knights to intervene and calm them before the horses would injure themselves or those around them. The horses were in shock and pain, creating chaos as the avians continued clawing them before flying high into the air, where nobody could reach them again. Some birds had been struck, cleaved in two halves with one strike, but the majority circled the carriage, waiting for the perfect timing to strike. Melissa cursed quietly and dashed to the carriage. She replaced her sword with a wooden wand and conjured an icicle at its tip. The icicle¡¯s full power was unleashed with a burst of mana. It soared through the air and struck one of the birds. The avian monster didn¡¯t die immediately, but its wings froze when the icicle shattered. It lost control of its body and screeched in pain and surprise. The monster crashed to the ground, where several Glacia Knights appeared to end its life. Percy remained next to Melissa as she continued releasing icicles. Her accuracy was great, but the avian monsters were agile and experienced hunters. They evaded most icicles, only to forget about their existence once the icicles shot past them. That the icicles would explode and transform into a barrage of tiny ice fragments was out of their expectations. The ice fragments cut into their flesh and wings and inflicted their freezing prosperity on the target. ¡°Diamond formation!¡± Ulfhar roared while rushing to Melissa. The other Glacia Knights followed suit and took guard around her. The formation around Melissa looked like an unmoving diamond. No matter in which direction Melissa walked, the Glacia Knights followed suit. Nobody left their designation position except Percy, who didn¡¯t have a position to hold in the first place. Stolen novel; please report. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about the avians on the ground. I can deal with them,¡± Percy shouted in the group after emerging from the diamond formation. He reached the closest writhing avian, a silvery-feathered eagle, and pierced its throat. Is that an Iron-feathered Eagle? Aren¡¯t they rare Common Monsters? And what are those? Hawks with blue feathers. To think hawks and eagles would work together to attack our carriage. That is¡­odd. Percy had no time to think about the avian monsters¡¯ reasoning. It didn¡¯t matter much in the first place. They were under attack, and their enemies had to be removed. He reached the next freezing body and pierced its chest with the Silvron Sword. The blue-feathered hawk was harder to kill than the Iron-feathered Eagles, but he presumed the former to be a weak Elite Monster. But to think none of the Knights know how to handle a bow. Well, they¡¯re knights and not archers. But still. What if a stronger aerial monster were to attack the carriage? Would they rely on Melissa? Just as the thought escaped his mind, Percy saw a few crossbows appear from Ulfhar¡¯s storage device. The Glacia Knights reached for the crossbows, readied the weapon, and shot. The rest of the battle was history. The avian monsters were surprised when the first barrage of crossbow bolts whizzed through the air and increased their distance from the Glacia Knights after the second barrage. They didn¡¯t even wait for the third barrage but escaped into the Moonlight Forest. The coachman was still near his horses and treated them with great care. He glared at one of the Iron-feathered Eagles, struck by a crossbow bolt, and kicked it angrily. Percy raised an eyebrow but proceeded with his little mission. He killed the remaining monsters. ¡°Since when are Iron-feathered Eagles and Blueflame Hawks working together? In the first place, since when did Blueflame Hawks habitat in the Moonlight Forest?¡± Melissa asked, ¡°And why did you take out the crossbows so late?¡± Ulfhar studied Melissa for a second and looked at Knight Liam briefly before nodding in satisfaction. ¡°I cannot answer the first two questions, but I can tell you why I didn¡¯t retrieve the crossbows earlier, Lady Reeze.¡± Melissa didn¡¯t say a word and waited impatiently until Ulfhar¡¯s lips parted again. ¡°There are two reasons. First, the avians attacked us not even a minute before you and the others returned. They would have attacked you or Percy if I¡¯d taken out a crossbow right away. Second, I wanted to show the Glacia Knights how weak we are against winged creatures. We are knights and the most accustomed to fighting on the ground, but that doesn¡¯t mean our enemies will follow the same rules.¡± You let the horses get injured because you felt like teaching the Glacia Knights a lesson? That¡¯s savage and¡­cruel. That tactic fits you perfectly, Ulfhar. Percy remained silent but still judged him. The horses were fine and only mildly injured, which could have been avoided. In the first place, Ulfhar was the one who always said that nobles had to be able to protect themselves. Melissa would never learn to depend on herself if the Glacia Knight Captain pampered her like this. ¡°Will we encounter many aerial monsters in the Moonlight Forest?¡± Percy asked to break the heavy atmosphere. The Glacia Knights didn¡¯t seem to like their captain¡¯s tactic because it scratched their pride and honor. ¡°The last few days to the Wintermoon estate are usually the most dangerous. We might have to travel slower than expected if we encounter more monsters, which is exactly what I predict. It has been years since Baron Levian hired Adventurers to cut the monster population in the Moonlight Forest. He says that the trip to the Wintermoon estate should already be considered part of the Imperials¡¯ training.¡± ¡°Who is Baron Levian?¡± Percy asked, unable to hide his embarrassment. His ears turned red as the Glacia Knights smiled at him. ¡°Baron Levian owns the Wintermoon estate and most of the Moonlight Forest. But it makes sense you don¡¯t know him. He only visits his estate for the Imperial''s training and doesn¡¯t take care of his lands either. He has no citizens and is usually at the capital, where he splurges his fortune,¡± Ulfhar sighed deeply, ¡°Baron Levian is a powerful warrior. Probably one of the strongest Imperials alive in the last few decades. He was a commoner and granted both a noble title and a small piece of land on the outskirts of the Moonlight Forest with the promise of more land if he managed to conquer the Moonlight Forest. That was exactly what Baron Levian did. He conquered the Moonlight Forest, found the mana vein, and built the Wintermoon estate. The Old Knight had to keep his word and granted him full control of the Moonlight Forest. After discovering the mana vein, he probably hated himself for the promise, but that matters little. Baron Levian¡¯s biggest conquest was not only his most significant achievement but also his downfall. Of course, many wouldn¡¯t agree with me, but that¡¯s my opinion. Baron Levian offered the Wintermoon estate for the Imperial''s training in exchange for an exorbitant price. The Old King paid the price, thus starting a new tradition. Since then, the Wintermoon estate has been used to train the strongest forces of the kingdom.¡± Percy learned a lot from Ulfhar¡¯s monologue, but he was the most interested in two things. First, hunting monsters was going to increase his Prosperity. If there were more monsters like the Ogres and the Blueflame Hawks, Percy would increase his Tier by another rank. Second¡­ Is the mana vein what everyone is going crazy for? Now I¡¯m curious! B1 Chapter 49 - The Offer Nobody said anything when Percy used [Consume] to devour the corpses of the monsters he¡¯d killed. Apparently, the Coin of Prosperity didn¡¯t care how much Melissa contributed to the avians¡¯ deaths. As long as he landed the killing blow, his Ego considered the carcasses his property. [11x Iron-feathered Eagles have been consumed. 4,930 Prosperity has been added.] [6x Blueflame Hawks have been consumed. 6,952 Prosperity has been added.] ¡°You can do whatever you want with the monsters I¡¯ve killed. My storage space is barely big enough to fit my equipment. There is no need to waste these precious corpses. Use them well and repay me later if you feel like it,¡± Igor commented while the other Glacia Knights looked at Liam and Ulfhar. The old knight and the Glacia Knight Captain had bigger storage spaces than the rest of the Glacia Knights, with Melissa having the biggest space, but neither would store their corpses. Ulfhar stored only the most valuable corpses and some expensive body parts ¨C the Blueflame Hawks and Iron-feathered Eagles weren¡¯t valuable enough ¨C while Melissa didn¡¯t grace the avian monster corpses with a glance. It was almost like the corpses didn¡¯t exist. Knight Liam collected some feathers but said that his storage was almost full, which resulted in a commotion of quiet curses and frustrated exclamations. At last, the Glacia Knights turned to Percy with a vibrant smile. ¡°Do you want to buy the corpses?¡± One of the younger Glacia Knights asked, trying to look as innocent as possible. They know I don¡¯t have any money, but they want me to buy the corpses? But¡­do I have to buy the corpses in the first place? Once we leave, I can rush back and claim the corpses. It¡¯s not like I have to stay with them all the time. It could be a little bit dangerous, though. And I don¡¯t think they will like it if I rush back after every battle. They know what I can do and will collect the monsters they had to leave behind. So¡­am I going to buy the corpses and make friends with the Glacia Knights, or will I displease them and rush back into the danger alone? One problem was that the Moonlight Forest was dangerous, and the commotion they were bound to create whenever they fought monsters in the densely grown forest would attract more monsters. Rushing back to the battlefield was dangerous, and he would be a prime target for sudden attacks. But what if I¡­ His expression changed, and he smiled at the young Glacia Knight. The young man flinched and retreated a step, seeing the vibrant glow in Percy¡¯s azure-blue eyes. For a moment, Percy looked like a grimacing devil. ¡°I buy them for one-tenth of their market price. Obviously, I cannot pay you immediately. I will pay you back once I make some money.¡± This was an opportunity. If he could acquire the corpses of all Glacia Knights, Percy would make a fortune. It would be easy to increase his Tier by one or two ranks in the next few days, and it would be even easier to strengthen his sword - transform it into a powerful Artifact - and further strengthen the Gnoll Card. All he needed was enough Prosperity. ¡°Only 10 percent of the market price?¡± The young Glacia Knight asked, his eyes squinted to tiny slits, ¡°I thought you were a nice guy¡­¡± His last words were a whisper, but everyone heard them nonetheless. Some Glacia Knights nodded while others glared at Percy for trying to exploit them. Even Melissa looked at him curiously. ¡°I never said I¡¯m a good guy. I was dirt poor until a few months ago, and I¡¯m still not filthy rich,¡± Percy shrugged. He didn¡¯t need to play the nice guy, but behaving like Erwdin made him uncomfortable. He didn¡¯t want to be an exploitative businessman like the merchant. Percy sighed and looked at the young man, ¡°Look. I don¡¯t have to buy the corpses from you or anyone to claim them. As long as I stay here for a minute while you and the rest of the troupe enter the Moonlight Forest, I can claim and consume the corpses. I wouldn¡¯t have to pay a single copper, but I offer you 10% of the market price.¡± The Glacia Knight didn¡¯t seem convinced, but his features softened slightly. ¡°Look at it this way, you earn almost one silver coin for every Iron-feathered Eagle and probably close to two silver coins for the Blueflame Hawks you¡¯ve killed IF you sell them to me. In contrast, you would earn nothing if you don¡¯t accept my offer. Keep in mind that your comrades might accept the same offer. If the Glacia Knights kill 100 Iron-feathered Eagles, I would have to fetch one gold coin to pay everyone.¡± Percy stared deep into the young man¡¯s eyes, and everyone could visibly see the knight¡¯s determination crumble. ¡°Do you think Iron-feathered Eagles will be all we will kill in the Moonlight Forest? What if we kill a handful of Ogres? I would have to pay you and the others 10, maybe 20 silver coins for every Ogre you¡¯ve slain. The Glacia Knight Captain said we must fight a lot because of the overflowing monster population. Do you think I can afford to owe each of you several gold coins after we¡¯re back from the Wintermoon estate? I have a single silver coin in my pockets, and the only Artifact currently in my possession is weaker than the Tempered Silvron Sword, which Knight Liam gifted to me¡­¡± Percy took a few deep breaths, and his lips parted. He was about to unleash another fury of reasons when Melissa intervened. ¡°That¡¯s enough. The Glacia Knights can choose if they accept your offer or not. My father pays them well, but I won¡¯t forbid them to earn a little bonus as long as they know where their priority lies!¡± He didn¡¯t expect Melissa to say anything but was glad she did. ¡°You extended the same offer to me as well, right?¡± Melissa asked before turning away, ¡°In that case, you should prepare enough money. Our way to the Wintermoon estate is long, and your pockets are empty.¡± Her tease struck Percy hard. He didn¡¯t expect Melissa to take on the offer as well. Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. ¡°If Lady Reeze accepts the offer, I shall accept it as well,¡± Ulfhar announced, smiling wolfishly at Percy. That¡¯s not good. You better don¡¯t focus on hunting monsters! I don¡¯t want to owe the Glacia Knight Order and Melissa a hundred gold coins or more once this is over!! ** Percy transformed into the living trash can of the Glacia Knight Order. It was a little concerning how many monsters attacked the carriage and how meticulously Melissa Reeze counted the carcasses and their worth whenever the Glacia Knights sold them to him, but overall, Percy profited a lot. Everyone, without a single exception, surrendered their monsters to Percy, who consumed them once Melissa finished updating her list. She smiled vibrantly at him whenever a rare and highly valuable monster was killed by the Glacia Knights. It was almost like the young noble found joy in the massive hole in his wallet. Percy didn¡¯t have any money, and even if he was to earn several gold coins in the following months, not a single coin would stay in his hands. He had to repay his debt to the Glacia Knights and Melissa as soon as possible. That seemed like a problem solely based on the numbers, but Melissa and the Glacia Knights were sorely mistaken if they kept underestimating him. The last few days had been full of action, and they never received a break longer than two hours before more monsters attacked. However, the Glacia Knights defeated their enemies quickly. Melissa and Percy stopped training and started fighting as the forest¡¯s density increased. The moon trees were large in the deeper parts of the Moonlight Forest, while the natural scents of countless natural treasures overlapped. Percy couldn¡¯t decipher most smells, but a few seemed familiar. He sent Hyean out to collect some herbs in the carriage¡¯s proximity and consumed them to keep increasing his Prosperity. He didn¡¯t use his Prosperity until the afternoon before they arrived at the Wintermoon estate. ¡ºPercy ¡» [Ego ¨C Coin of Prosperity] [Tier] ¨C [Elite-2] ¡ª [Gnoll(Common ¨C???) ¨C [Blade Mastery???],[A Hunter¡¯s Smell?], [Minor Strength Boost?]] [Empty] ¡ºCoin of Prosperity¡» Prosperity: 1,370.246 ?Consume He might be knee-deep in debt and had to repay the Glacia Knights and Melissa for 17 gold coins and 63 silver, but that was a minor concern. His Tier reached Elite-2, and Percy could instinctively tell that it wouldn¡¯t cost much to rank up again if he used Prosperity directly on his Tier. But that wasn¡¯t what Percy did. He focused on Hyean instead. He used [Consume] on Prosperity to upgrade the Gnoll Card¡¯s potential. [Gnoll Card¡¯s Potential -[Common ???] has been upgraded. 75,000 Prosperity have been consumed] The first upgrade was around 30,000. That should be an increase of 2.5 times. Percy nodded slowly, licking his lips nervously as he repeated the process. [Gnoll Card¡¯s Potential -[Common ????] has been upgraded. 187,500 Prosperity have been consumed] Once again, the Gnoll Card¡¯s potential cost twice the Prosperity he paid before. Percy nodded slowly, still using [Consume] on Prosperity to observe the silverish-golden shimmers around the Potential tag and the Gnoll Card¡¯s Augmentations. But before he did anything else, another notification popped up. [Your Tier increased by one rank] The flood of mana cooled his nerves. He smiled and proceeded with his initial plan. There was no need to be hesitant and angsty! [Gnoll Card¡¯s Potential -[Common ?????] has been upgraded. 468,750 Prosperity have been consumed] [Gnoll Card¡¯s Potential increased to [Elite ?]. Gnoll advanced to Gnoll Warrior.] This is¡­ Am I supposed to be surprised, or is that expected? I know that Hyean was an average Gnoll and that Gnoll Warriors, Elite Monsters, existed. But it¡¯s nice to see that it is rather easy to advance Hyean to a Gnoll Warrior. But then again¡­it was a bit pricey. If all upgrades cost 2.5 times¡­I don¡¯t think Hyean will become an Evolved Monster easily. Percy smiled and summoned the Gnoll Card¡¯s interface. [Monster Card ¨C Gnoll Warrior(Elite ¨C?) ¨C [A Hunter¡¯s Smell?] ¨C [Blade Mastery???]¨C [Minor Strength Boost?] ¨C 250,000 Prosperity] The Prosperity number was lower, but Percy didn¡¯t plan to consume the Gnoll Warrior Card either way. He invested enough Prosperity into Hyean to keep the Gnoll Warrior on his side as long as possible. Thus, he continued using [Consume] on Prosperity to strengthen Hyean. The stronger his Monster Card, the stronger the Cardist. [Gnoll ¨C Healthy] [Name ¨C Hyean] [Potential: Elite ? ?] [Augmentation] [Blade Mastery???] [A Hunter¡¯s Smell?] [Minor Strength Boost?] [Berserk ????] Percy¡¯s eyes narrowed to tiny slits. He didn¡¯t expect another Augmentation to pop up. Unfortunately, he didn¡¯t have enough Prosperity to unseal Berserk instantly. Percy was forced to focus on the other Augmentations. [Blade Mastery] is too expensive to upgrade, and [A Hunter¡¯s Smell] isn¡¯t needed as much now. That leaves [Minor Strength Boost]. It shouldn¡¯t be too expensive, though. Can I upgrade it to Basic right away? [Gnoll Card¡¯s Augmentation, [Minor Strength Boost?] has been upgraded. 45,000 Prosperity has been consumed] [Gnoll Card¡¯s Augmentation, [Minor Strength Boost??] has been upgraded. 67,500 Prosperity has been consumed] ¡­ [Gnoll Card¡¯s Augmentation, [Minor Strength Boost?????] has been upgraded. 227,812 Prosperity has been consumed] [Gnoll Card¡¯s Augmentation [Minor Strength Boost?????+?] evolved to [Basic Strength Boost ?].] Percy¡¯s eyes bulged at the cost of upgrading Hyean¡¯s Augmentation, but he didn¡¯t have enough time to lament about the shocking price and the flood of notifications when a wave of pain spread through his body. The power of [Basic Strength Boost] jumped into action, and Percy quickly realized how massive the difference between the [Minor] and [Basic] was. In the seven hells!! That hurts!!! B1 Chapter 50 - A Nobles Offer Upgrading [Minor Strength Boost] to [Basic Strength Boost] hurt more than expected. Percy lost control of his body and was forced to join the coachman on the carriage. He writhed in pain for what felt like an eternity as his muscles grew firmer. His physique expanded, and his shoulder widened, pushing Percy closer to the appearance of the Glacia Knights. The afternoon sun was descending and the densely-grown moon trees shrouded the last rays of sunlight. That was so much worse than I expected. Percy groaned and looked up only to see the coachman looking at him worriedly. ¡°Are you fine? You looked like you were about to die. Or like a Mind Demon was about to possess you,¡± He asked while Ulfhar and Knight Liam walked up to the carriage. ¡°What the hell did you do, kiddo? You look like you¡¯re wearing your little sister¡¯s shirt,¡± The Glacia Knight Captain asked while retrieving a set of clothes from his storage. He threw it onto the carriage and waved dismissively when he caught Percy¡¯s confused expression, ¡°Keep them. They¡¯re not new but will last you a while.¡± Percy looked down at his body and squinted his eyes. His chest was broader than before and pressed tightly against his hemp shirt. The hemp shirt had been torn and ripped in multiple places, but it was still good to wear. But not any longer. His shirt was too tight around his chest and arms, which stretched the material to its limits. Percy didn¡¯t try it, but flexing his muscles would tear his clothes apart. He didn¡¯t have a second set of clothes and would have to run around with his bare chest. Running around with a bare chest sounds nice until you meet the nobles and commonbirth Egos with the highest probability of becoming the kingdom¡¯s Imperials. He chuckled, imagining what would happen if he reached the Wintermoon estate half-naked. Would they throw him out? ¡°Thank you,¡± Percy accepted Ulfhar¡¯s clothes and changed quickly. His muscles were still sore, but he could move painlessly. ¡°That¡¯s not too bad either,¡± Percy mumbled with a wolfish grin when he noticed the Glacia Knights¡¯ flabbergasted stares. It wasn¡¯t anything new for them to see the bare chests of other men, but the Glacia Knights had known Percy for a few weeks. Not even in their wildest dreams would they have expected Percy to have a physique like that. The Glacia Knight Captain and Knight Liam doubted that as well. ¡°You¡­cannot only strengthen yourself with your Ego, can you?¡± Knight Liam asked after studying Percy silently. Percy changed his clothes while affirming Liam¡¯s suspicion, ¡°I can strengthen my property as well.¡± He unsheathed the Silvron Sword and showed it to the old knight while using [Consume] on Prosperity. Tempered Silvron Sword Excellent Quality 5355 Prosperity [Sharpness], [Mana Slash], [Frostblade], [Fiery Blade] Dozens of silverish-golden threads shimmered brightly and coated the Tempered Silvron Sword, but only one of the enchantments glowed vibrantly. He felt the resistance to the other runic enchantments and nodded slowly. The Silvron Sword should be able to endure two runic enchantments. The quality and material are both great. [Sharpness] is always useful, but the other runic enchantments are a little expensive. He nodded slowly and used some of his remaining Prosperity on the Tempered Silvron Sword. [Tempered Silvron Sword¡¯s blade has been enhanced. 15,000 Prosperity has been deducted.] [The blade has reached its limit. [Sharpness] is overflowing with Prosperity. [Sharpness] will be interwoven into the essence of the Tempered Silvron Sword.] If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. The coachman squealed in surprise when streaks of vibrant ocean-blue mana surfaced on the Silvron Sword. The first streak surprised everyone watching the process, but when the ocean-blue mana etched the eighth and final line into the blade, everyone stared at the weapon in shock and terror. Only Percy looked at his new Artifact with a mix of confusion and annoyance. Why was this enchantment so expensive? Even the [Sharpness] enchantment on the Gnoll Blade was A LOT cheaper. This is more than ten times the Prosperity I paid for the Gnoll Blade! Percy grit his teeth and tried hard not to show his surprise and displeasure. [Sharpness] was the cheapest enchantment. How expensive will [Mana Slash] and the other runic enchantments be? No wait! Will all runic enchantments be this expensive now? He was angry, but his rationality dispersed the frustration ravaging through his body quickly. The runic enchantment on the Silvron Sword had been far more expensive than the runic enchantment on the Gnoll Blade and every other Artifact together, but there was a major difference. Unlike [Sharpness] on the Gnoll Blade, the enchantment on the Tempered Silvron Sword felt stronger. It was almost like [Sharpness] on the Silvron Sword was more potent and far stronger. Percy retrieved the Gnoll Blade for a moment and activated the [Sharpness] enchantments on both Gnoll Blade and Tempered Silvron Sword simultaneously. It costs more mana, but the effect is more prominent as well. Even if the enchantments were the same, the gap in material and quality impacted the runic enchantments¡¯ potency. But that would also mean that the same runic enchantments used on different materials would affect the efficiency and potency of all Artifacts, not only those he¡¯d enchanted with his Ego. [Sharpness] on the Tempered Silvron Sword feels tens of times stronger than the Gnoll Blade. That explains everything. Percy looked at the Glacia Knights¡¯ plated armor and grinned. That also means [Guard] and [Reinforce] on their armor would be far more expensive than on the leather forearm guards and chestplate. BUT it will also be far more effective and protect them from much more danger than my Artifacts would have¡­with the same runic enchantments. ¡°Did you just add a runic enchantment to the Silvron Sword?¡± Ulfhar asked rhetorically while Melissa emerged from the carriage to also look at the commotion. Her eyes narrowed when she noticed everyone¡¯s expression and where their eyes lingered. Melissa approached Percy and looked at the Silvron Sword. Her eyebrow rose, and she stepped closer to touch the blade. Her fingers trailed across the runic enchantments, and her eyes lit up. ¡°[Sharpness]. The rune is not perfect, but it should contain enough power to be used in perfect sync with the Silvron Sword. A little bit more and the Silvron Sword would be strained with every use of the runic enchantment.¡± Melissa looked at Percy and studied him again, ¡°Can you repeat the process?¡± She looked at him with more intensity than ever. It was almost like Melissa Reeze looked at the real Percy for the first time. ¡°I applied the [Sharpness] enchantment to the Gnoll Blade.¡± He nodded. Melissa swallowed hard, the corner of her lips curling upward. Her mind rattled as she retrieved another Tempered Silvron Sword from her storage ring. ¡°Can you enchant my blade if I give it to you?¡± Some Glacia Knights exclaimed softly, realizing what Lady Reeze was doing. They looked at their Sword Artifacts and winced. After the fight with the Archyeas and constantly using it for a few weeks, repetitively straining their weapons with the runic enchantments, their Artifacts sustained damage in multiple spots. ¡°I don¡¯t think it will work, your grace,¡± Percy mumbled but gave in under Melissa¡¯s intense stare, ¡°But we can try. It needs to be in my possession.¡± ¡°That is a simple matter. Hereby, I gift you this Tempered Silvron Sword. It¡¯s yours!¡± Melissa declared, repeating similar words that she and the Glacia Knights usually used to surrender their corpses to Percy. But Percy shook his head. ¡°There is no interface. I don¡¯t think it works because you expect me to give you the Sword back once I enchanted it. My Ego doesn¡¯t work like that.¡± That is interesting to know, though. For my Ego to work, I¡¯d probably have to purchase the weapons, enchant them, and sell them properly. The circumstances were unfortunate since they were in the middle of a forest rather than a city where Percy could purchase some weapons to enchant before selling them to Melissa. Solving his debt to the Glacia Knight Order would also be solved easily. But they were about to reach the Wintermoon estate and wouldn¡¯t travel to a nearby city anytime soon. Melissa clicked her tongue, but her grimace turned into a smile after a few seconds. ¡°In that case, I want to buy this sword. I give you another one, unenchanted in return. You can keep it and do whatever you want with the unenchanted sword. If you¡¯re willing to sell it in the future, once it is an Artifact, come to Ulfhar or me, and we will purchase it. The Reeze Dukedom will give you a good price. We can cover your debt to the Glacia Knight Order easily that way, too.¡± A moment later, Melissa retrieved something else from her storage ring. It was a small silverish glimmering card. A Monster Card. ¡°You know what that is?¡± Melissa asked rhetorically. Percy nodded slowly. That was the Monster Card they had acquired in the Moonlight Forest. It was the only Monster Card that had dropped after killing countless monsters. The Monster Card of a Blueflame Hawk. ¡°I¡¯m willing to give you this in exchange for the Sword Artifact!¡± Percy¡¯s eyes bulged in shock when he realized what exactly Melissa said. Did someone hit her too hard on the head?! B1 Chapter 51 - Wintermoon Estate The Glacia Knights stared at Lady Reeze in disbelief. The Blueflame Hawk was an Elite Monster. Even if it was a rather weak Elite Monster, it was a fast avian, capable of scouting and surprise attacks. The Monster Card of an ordinary Blueflame Hawk was far more valuable than Michael¡¯s enchanted sword. [Sharpness] was one of the simplest weapon enchantments. Percy¡¯s Ego might adjust the runic enchantment perfectly to the Tempered Silvron Sword, which avoids straining the weapon no matter how often [Sharpness] was activated. However, it was still not worth nearly as much as the Blueflame Hawk Card. Despite that, Liam smiled while the Glacia Knight Captain¡¯s expression remained unchanged. They didn¡¯t seem surprised about the change of events. It was almost like they expected the young heiress to behave like that. Percy nibbled on his lower lip while his eyes drifted from Melissa to the Blueflame Hawk Card. I have one open Card Slot, and enhancing the Gnoll Warrior will cost a fortune now. If I can acquire more Augmentations from another Monster Card and claim another ally to fight by my side, I should easily survive in the Moonlight Forest. But accepting the Monster Card will have consequences. Even if there are no official conditions, Melissa is doing me a favor. She is¡­investing in my growth. The Blueflame Hawk was incredibly valuable, but there was more to Melissa¡¯s generous trading offer. She might not say it aloud, but the young heiress wanted more. It was similar to his debt to the Glacia Knight Order, yet different. Melissa¡¯s action was a proper investment of a future Duchess. She was spreading her wings out to acquire trust and loyalty. Do I like this? Not really. But I do like the Blueflame Hawk. It should have some good Augmentations. He went through the pros and cons one more time and nodded at last. ¡°I accept.¡± Percy handed Melissa the enchanted Silvron Sword and received a bonafide copy of the Tempered Silvron Sword. Not enchanted, obviously. The interface appeared as well. Everything worked as intended. [Tempered Silvron Sword ¨C Excellent Quality ¨C 5295 Prosperity] ¡°You did the right thing. That was probably the cheapest option to acquire an Elite Monster Card you could have hoped for. Other than hunting Monster Cards on your own,¡± Melissa commented, handing over the Blueflame Hawk Card. Percy, however, was already busy with something else. [Tempered Silvron Sword¡¯s blade has been enhanced. 15,000 Prosperity has been deducted.] [The blade has reached its limit. [Sharpness] is overflowing with Prosperity. [Sharpness] will be interwoven into the essence of the Tempered Silvron Sword.] Streaks of vibrant ocean-blue mana engraved eight beautiful marks into the newly acquired Tempered Silvron Sword, transforming the ordinary weapon into an Artifact before everyone¡¯s eyes. ¡°I hope so, Lady Reeze,¡± Percy responded quietly as his eyes trailed to the Blueflame Hawk Card. [Monster Card - Blueflame Hawk (Elite ¨C ?) ¨C 185,000 Prosperity] The Monster Card wasn¡¯t special, but that didn¡¯t change anything. Percy could add the Augmentations as he acquired more Prosperity. He had only 4,000ish Prosperity left but chose to check the Augmentations of his newest acquisition nonetheless. Percy had to claim the Monster Card properly to ensure he wouldn''t miss any details. He pulled his new shirt down, exposing a part of his bare chest. Melissa blushed slightly at his mannerless gesture but remained where she was without uttering a sound. Her ears turned red while Percy focused on the mana circulating through the Monster Card. It stirred wildly when Percy pressed the Blueflame Hawk Card against his chest. The wild mana within the Monster Card reached out for Percy¡¯s mana, which he accepted. Percy willed his mana to burst toward the Card and engulf it. The temperature around him dropped slightly ¨C contrary to his first experience with the Gnoll Card ¨C until Percy shivered. He was in pain and felt like freezing to death, but he never thought about retrieving the Monster Card. Percy felt that the Monster Card belonged to him no matter how painful it was. That the pain was exactly how it was supposed to be. Everything was perfect. Percy closed his eyes with that thought and endured the pain without halting his mana circulation. The mana within him circulated wildly, trying to heat the chill spreading through his chest. This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. He lost track of time, but it must have been a few hours. The surrounding forest was dark and silent. The Glacia Knights on night duty smiled at him but said nothing. Meanwhile, Melissa, Ulfhar, and the rest looked at him. They ignored his drenched clothes and exhausted appearance and smiled at him. ¡°I hope you¡¯re not going to leave us hanging like that. We waited for you to finish absorbing the Monster Card,¡± Igore teased Percy while Melissa Reeze cleared her throat. ¡°What are the Augmentations your Blueflame Hawk can acquire?¡± She looked straight at his bare chest, the head of an azure-blue hawk engraved next to the Gnoll Warrior¡¯s head. Both were etched into his chest and glowed dimly into the night. Percy didn¡¯t have to tell them anything, but he was also curious [Blueflame Hawk ¨C Healthy] [Name ¨C None] [Potential: Elite ? ?] [Augmentation] [Hawk Eyes ?] [Basic Agility Boost ??] [Frostbite ????] [Silent Reaper ?] Percy relayed the information to the others, mostly because he was curious if Melissa or Ulfhar knew anything about [Frostbite] and [Silent Reaper]. He might be able to sense how big the resistance to unlock either of the Augmentations was but had no clue which one to unlock first. Not that he could unlock any of his Augmentations instantly in the first place. It would be good to have a rough idea to start planning already. ¡°[Hawk Eyes] is probably one of the most common Augmentations for most hawks. It enhances their eyesight, and ¨C if the star rating is high enough ¨C it allows monsters to pinpoint their enemies¡¯ weak points. It is a great Augmentation for most Cardists, but Archers and Scouts profit from it the most, except if you can pinpoint your enemies¡¯ weakness with [Hawk Eyes] at a high star rating,¡± Knight Liam commented, his eyes glimmering. It seemed like he had some great experiences with Cardists who owned [Hawk Eyes] and had a decent star rating. ¡°[Basic Agility Boost] is self-explanatory. But¡­[Frostbite] and [Silent Reaper] are very interesting.¡± Ulfhar smiled, turning to Melissa, who nodded slowly. ¡°[Frostbite] is the Augmentations most high-ranked Glacia Knights are trying to acquire to emulate the Reeze family¡¯s Elemental Ego. We don¡¯t know many monsters with a low probability of procuring Frostbite, especially not at such a high star rating. Four stars¡­¡± She looked back at the Glacia Knight Captain, ¡°I think we know what monsters to hunt once all this is over.¡± Did I just cause the extinction of a whole race? I surely hope not! Percy frowned but continued listening. Or he would have if the others said something else. ¡°What about [Silent Reaper]? It shows even more resistance than [Frostbite], even though it¡¯s only a one-star Augmentation,¡± he asked when nobody said anything. Melissa shrugged, and Knight Liam shook his head. All eyes rested on the Glacia Knight Captain, who smiled wryly. ¡°I¡¯m not all-knowing either. I didn¡¯t know an Augmentation called Silent Reaper existed. The only thing I can think of when I hear ¡®Silent Reaper¡¯ is the legend of the Endless Shadow.¡± What¡¯s that? Percy wanted to ask but Ulfhar¡¯s expression twisted into a clear ¡®no questions¡¯-grimace. With that in mind. Percy changed the topic. He grinned brightly at the others. ¡°So¡­what awaits us at the Wintermoon estate?¡± ** The following day passed quickly. Too quickly, if one was to ask Percy. He slept until early morning when a group of Kobolds attacked the carriage. Percy wasn¡¯t in a good mood because he missed sleeping on a soft and comfortable mattress dearly, but fighting with the Blueflame Hawk and the Gnoll Warriors on his side wasn¡¯t too bad either. That was what Percy did the entire day until late afternoon. He fought alongside his monsters and learned how to control them more precisely. His understanding of the Blueflame Hawk increased quickly, which was necessary as the number of monster attacks increased the closer they were to the Wintermoon estate. Percy had many questions, but he saved them for later. Instead, he focused on the surroundings and the tasks ahead. The scenery around them changed slowly. At some points, the monster masses stopped coming their way. Percy was ready to keep fighting, but Knight Liam waved him off. ¡°You can rest. The monster won¡¯t come closer. The Wintermoon estate is ahead,¡± The old knight said lightheartedly, as if the monsters¡¯ behavior was self-explanatory. The densely grown undergrowth dispersed around them, and it felt like the towering moon trees made space for the Glacia Knights and the carriage. The area opened up, revealing a massive clearing in the center of the Moonlight Forest. A glistening stream riveted through the colorful clearing, which seemed to be overflowing with life and mana. However, Percy focused more on the colossus structure in the middle of the clearing. A massive mansion unfolded before him several times wider, longer, and higher than any construct Percy had seen in Raewood. At last, they arrived at the Wintermoon estate. The Imperial training could begin. B1 Epilogue The Reeze family¡¯s carriage came to a halt before the Wintermoon estate. ¡°This is massive,¡± Percy gasped, twisting his neck to intake the ginormous size of the Wintermoon estate. Training grounds and tents that might as well be considered proper buildings were constructed all around the Wintermoon estate, but Percy¡¯s attention remained on the main building. He only diverted his focus when the coachman nudged him with his elbow. He gestured to a group of young men and women approaching the carriage with a lofty gait. ¡°Be careful here. If possible, stay as quiet as I am,¡± He said with a sad smile, ¡°I know you¡¯re a powerful Ego, and you might not like to hear this, but you weren¡¯t chosen for this year¡¯s Imperials training. Don¡¯t take it too hard if the instructors won¡¯t accept you. They¡¯re just doing their job. Try to avoid the nobles around Melissa. They influenced her a lot in the past. She was not always like this. I think you know what I mean.¡± Percy didn¡¯t answer, but that wasn¡¯t needed. He focused on the young nobles instead. They approached the carriage and embraced Melissa tightly after she approached them. The young nobles chatted comfortably, and it wasn¡¯t long until two noblewomen linked their arms with Lady Reeze. Melissa was pulled away from the carriage, unable to talk to the Glacia Knight Captain or her other subordinates. Her head flicked back to Ulfhar, who bowed politely. ¡°Melissa is a role model for many nobles. She mastered a portion of her Ego already and acquired a seat at the top of the Imperial''s training.¡± Percy nodded again. If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Obviously, she will be the core of attention. She is not only powerful and will grow much stronger but also a future Duchess and more beautiful than most. Nobody sane would anger her¡­yet here I am. The corners of his lips curled upward, and he looked around to study the other members of the Imperials'' training. He found a handful of nobles and a bunch of commonbirth Egos. Differentiating them was simple. The young nobles were seated near their high-quality tents, wore the most expensive accessories and clothes, and acted haughty, almost like the world revolved around them. In the meantime, the commonbirth Egos acted differently. Some were confident, but most were still uncertain about their spot among so many nobles. They felt out of place and behaved like that. Nonetheless, everyone radiated power. Nobody felt weak, no matter where Percy looked. Percy burst into a vibrant smile at that thought. That was his life now. So many things had changed in the last few months, but he was surrounded by the most powerful Gifted Ones of the kingdom¡¯s youngest generation. The future Imperials. This is perfection! ** A strong gust passed through the canopy, caressing the moon tree branches and shrubs throughout the densely grown forest. A reverberating crunch shook the pleasant silence hanging in the air. A pained groan and squishy noises followed the crunches until they also subdued. Blood sprawled everywhere at the origin of the crunches and pained groans. Shreds of skin and chunks of flesh embellished the grotesque sight of an unmoving body. A young man, mere remains indicating that he had once been human, leaned against a tree. He had been cut open, his chest ripped apart, and his eyeballs carved out. He was dead, and the perpetrator was out there, eying the Wintermoon estate from the embrace of darkness. A resounding giggle, eerie and filled with darkness, escaped its lips. May the hunt begin. B2 Prologue ¡°Why now?¡± A tired voice resounded through a large, cobbled hall. Four pillars, polished and engraved with various rune enchantments, carried the ceiling and perfectly isolated the hall. No sound escaped the active runic enchantments. The hall was a safe ground, a meeting place where no harm could be caused. Yet, nobody in the room felt safe and sound. The men and women seated around the heavy darkwood round table studied the documents spread out before them while eying the map of the kingdom every few seconds. Everyone could sense their impatience and frustration. It was an inappropriate sight for the strongest men and women of the kingdom, but no one seated around the heavy round table pointed it out. They were too tired to care about their misconduct. ¡°Are you talking about the bandits ransacking entire villages before disappearing into thin air, the discovery of multiple rooted Infernal Lairs, the sightings of more mutated demons than in the last two hundred years, or the Monster Rampages?¡± A hoarse yet vigorous voice escaped the lips of the oldest man seated around the round table. The other men and women glanced in the old man¡¯s direction. He was no longer an official member of the round table after his son was crowned but attended most meetings nonetheless. Unfortunately, his voice ¨C the voice of the Old King ¨C was too straightforward. Like always. This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. ¡°I am, father,¡± The Old King¡¯s son, Phillip Kain of the Kainesh Kingdom, looked up, his azure-blue eyes flashing in anger, ¡°Why is everything happening now? The timing is¡­odd.¡± ¡°The seven hells probably prepared everything they needed for years. The cults are resurfacing, and more humans are falling victim to their empty promises. I don¡¯t know about the bands of bandits, but I¡¯m sure one of the Demon Kings is behind this,¡± One of the middle-aged women said, her fist crashing down on the heavy table. The members of the round table sighed deeply. It had been more than a decade since the demons initiated a large-scale attack. Since that day, they had been silent, almost like the ancient prophecy had been true. A few men and women glanced at the King but remained silent. The royal family had suffered enough. There was no need to tear open old wounds after so many years. King Phillip sighed deeply again but seemed to have accepted his fate. His expression turned steel, and his presence intensified. The King was not allowed to show his weak side. He had a kingdom to protect. ¡°How is the Imperial training faring? Can we accelerate their training?¡± B2 Chapter 1 - Boredom Their arrival at the Wintermoon estate had been interesting. Percy learned a lot about the Kingdom of Kainesh, the noble families, and their Ego. Considering his past, Percy got to know a lot. Almost everything was new and exciting to him. Unfortunately, the excitement didn¡¯t last long. After he traveled with the heiress of the Reeze Dukedom and her retinue of Glacia Knights to the Wintermoon estate for weeks to join the Imperial''s training, Percy had expected more from the weeks following their arrival. But maybe the main problem wasn¡¯t the Imperials'' training. The issue was more the rejection he had received. Percy was not permitted to join the Imperials'' training. The Glacia Knights had told him not to expect much, but the Glacia Knight Captain¡¯s stories about the Imperials and their combat prowess had been etched in his heart. Percy would have loved to participate in the training of those legendary figures. Unfortunately, nothing went according to his plans and hopes. The Glacia Knights constructed several comfortable tents near the Wintermoon estate, where they camped for the last few weeks. Other than the Glacia Knights¡¯ camp, Percy discovered the retinue of the other nobles and groups of commonbirth Egos camping outside. Apparently, Percy wasn¡¯t the only Ego who had been rejected to join the Imperial''s training inside the Wintermoon estate, where all important lessons were taught. The situation was unpleasant, to put it into simple words. Percy¡¯s mood was at an all-time low point when one of the instructors rejected his request to join the Imperial''s training. Percy wasn¡¯t allowed to show his strength and that he met the requirements to join the Imperial''s training. They didn¡¯t allow him to show his worth and rejected him mercilessly. No matter what he tried, Percy was denied until he was forced to give up. One of the instructors threatened Percy to cripple him and sever his mana paths. That was a line Percy didn¡¯t want to cross. Joining the Imperial''s training would be an excellent opportunity to grow stronger, but Percy would much rather keep his mana paths unscathed and where they were. He swallowed his ambition and pride and accepted his fate. Percy accepted the rejection, but that didn¡¯t mean he gave up. Nobody could stop him from growing stronger. With that in mind, Percy approached the Glacia Knights with a request. The Glacia Knights fulfilled their mission by escorting Melissa Reeze to the Wintermoon estate and were given a few months of rest before the Imperial training would end. They had enough time to spare for Percy. It didn¡¯t take long before Percy hated his ambition to the core. The Glacia Knights weren¡¯t bored enough to start training independently, but they certainly enjoyed torturing Percy for weeks. Weeks in which he didn¡¯t see Melissa once. Percy didn¡¯t miss Melissa, or anything like that, but his initial hope was to ask her if she could introduce him to the Imperial training. That was out of the question after the Imperial training instructor threatened to cripple him, but Percy was confused why Melissa and the other nobles never left the Wintermoon estate. Even if she could help me participate in the Imperial training¡­would she do it? Does she have the authority to force the instructors to accept him? This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. Some questions similar to these two flashed through his mind occasionally. The Glacia Knights, especially old knight Liam, had taught him a lot about the politics in the palace, the scheming of nobles, and the fact that all nobles had at least ten aces up their sleeves. Old knight Liam reminded Percy of the old man. It had been months since he thought about Greg, but the more he talked to Knight Liam, the more often he was reminded how much Greg influenced his uprising. He taught me a lot about combat, spatial awareness, how to read patterns, and much more¡­ he also isolated me from others and kept me in the dark about so many things. Why did he do that? There were so many things Percy didn¡¯t understand. He knew Greg wasn¡¯t his father, but the old man never told him about his real family. Were they dead? If not¡­were they searching for him? How did he end up with Greg in the first place? Whenever Percy questioned his past and upbringing, only questions flashed through his mind. Not a single answer popped up. That was even more true so for his Ego. Percy had learned much about Egos, but nobody ever spoke about an Ego acting without the User¡¯s command. Some effects of Egos were passive and thus always active, yet it wasn¡¯t like [Consume] was a passive ability. The abomination of [Consume] acted on its own when the human Adventurers were killed. It consumed the Adventurers and used the Prosperity he¡¯d gained to empower him¡­thus saving his life. If it had been for another reason, Percy would have been scared witless, but his Ego didn¡¯t act without his command again. It had only acted when Percy had been on the verge of death¡­fighting his kin. Even though he made some mental notes of certain comments from the Glacia Knight Captain, who also had an Ego, and some other commonbirth Egos, whom Percy had chatted up after gathering his courage for several days, most answers to his well-hidden questions were either useless or confusing. Egos were inborn abilities representing the user¡¯s wishes according to some commonbirth Egos. Maybe it made sense for them, but Hereditary Egos were similar to their parents'' Egos. Furthermore, Percy doubted he wished for an Ego with a devil¡¯s disgusting grimace on a golden coin. His Ego¡¯s power suited him, but it would have suited everyone who could use their head for something other than looking good. Well, some didn¡¯t even look all that good. Percy¡¯s point was that the commonbirth Egos¡¯ commentary sounded like a fairytale. At the same time, the Glacia Knight Captain mentioned something about a mixture of personality, fate, desires, and the User¡¯s corresponding compatibility with the Mixture of Fate. That was what Ulfhar called it whenever Percy asked the Glacia Knight Captain about Egos, their origin, and why the difference between commonbirth Egos and Hereditary Egos was so great. Ulfhar¡¯s answers often displeased him, but his training certainly didn¡¯t. After Melissa left to stay in the Wintermoon estate, Ulfhar made it a sacred mission to transform Percy into a powerful Ego. It was almost like the Glacia Knight Captain wanted to show the Imperial¡¯s instructors what kind of treasure they were missing out on. Weeks of harsh training passed in the blink of an eye until Percy was allowed inside the Moonlight Forest. Some advised him against it, but Ulfhar and Knight Liam told him to go, hunt as much as he pleased, and return safely. They never doubted him or their gut feeling. After all, the man before them was much more than an average Ego. The Glacia Knight Captain and the old knight had realized that over the last few months. They knew something Percy had yet to understand, but it didn¡¯t seem bad. On the contrary, the duo gave their utmost to help him grow stronger. He trusted them. Unfortunately, that didn¡¯t mean the Moonlight Forest was going to be a walk in the park. Percy realized that as soon as he left the Wintermoon estate. He left the clearing and returned to the densely grown forest where all kinds of terrors were waiting for him. You guys are sorely mistaken if you think I will be your prey! Watch me closely, or you will become the hunted instead! B2 Chapter 2 - Hunt A silver arc swept across the Inferior Ogres¡¯ neck, beheading the monstrous creature. A fountain of blood spurted from the monster¡¯s neck as the disproportionally huge Ogre head landed on the ground with a loud thud. Percy breathed heavily, but the corner of his lips tilted upward. Three Ogre corpses sprawled out around him, and two more Ogres charged him to break his bones and mash his body. But it was a good thing Percy wasn¡¯t alone. Hyean blocked the initial charge of one Inferior Ogre. The Gnoll Warrior was an Elite Monster with decent combat prowess, but that wouldn¡¯t have been enough to stall an Inferior Ogre. Fortunately, Hyean possessed the [Blade Mastery] and [Basic Strength Boost] Augmentations. The Augmentations pushed the summoned Monster¡¯s strength and weapon mastery to another level. Hyean blocked the Inferior Ogre¡¯s initial charge and spun around. The Gnoll Warrior used his accumulated momentum to pierce the Gnoll Blade in the monster¡¯s armpit. The Gnoll Blade enchanted with [Sharpness], cut deep into the monster¡¯s armpit, but the damage was not enough. The Ogre¡¯s flat hand crashed heavily into Hyean, hurling the summoned monster through the air. You are too aggressive, Hyean. Didn¡¯t we go through that hundreds of times already? It wasn¡¯t easy for Percy to control his summoned monsters precisely. Sometimes, the Gnoll Warrior felt like a puppet, which he could control with simple commands, but there were also times when Hyean was controlled by its wild instincts and bloodlust. When a blue flash whisked through the air, the Inferior Ogre was about to charge Hyean to end him. A screech resounded right when razor-sharp talons dug into the Inferior Ogre¡¯s left eye. The Ogre roared in pain and flailed its hands, ready to throw some fists. It flattened the pesky attacker or tried to, only to strike its head with the flat hand. Percy watched the Blueflame Hawk dive to its target, squish one of its eyes with its sharp talons, and return to the safety of the sky before it could be struck. He evaded the other Inferior Ogre¡¯s charge and responded with a quick attack. His enchanted sword glowed pristinely when the silver blade dug through the Ogre¡¯s foot, severing its tendon. The Ogre tried to stand on both feet and hurl around to attack Percy, but its left foot twisted. Blood gushed out of the wound as the creature collapsed to the ground. Once it hit the ground, Percy had enough time to slit the monster¡¯s throat. Percy turned back to the last enemy, where he saw Hyean and the Blueflame Hawk. The Gnoll Blade stuck deep in the Ogre¡¯s remaining eye, permanently depriving the Inferior Ogre of its eyesight. Can they handle it? Ogres heal quickly, but their eyes should take longer to regenerate than normal wounds. Still, Hyean has only the Gnoll Blade to inflict damage, and the Gnoll Blade is not exactly¡­amazing. Maybe I should ask the Glacia Knights for a new weapon to prepare Hyean. The Gnoll Warrior was strong and exceptional at wielding bladed weapons. It understood tactics as well and transformed into a valuable asset in combat. Percy should nurture the Gnoll Warrior and provide more armaments to protect his summoned monsters and increase their combat prowess with external means. Relying on his Ego to strengthen the Monster Cards might be good, but there were other means to unleash his monster¡¯s potential. Other than Prosperity, of course. Percy activated the Silvron Sword¡¯s [Sharpness] enchantment and charged the blind Inferior Ogre. It was busy finding the Gnoll Warrior, who¡¯d pounced on the Ogre¡¯s back to reach and claw its throat. Unfortunately, the Gnoll Warrior wasn¡¯t able to inflict anymore injuries. Even with [Basic Strength Boost], Hyean could not dig through the Ogre¡¯s thick hide. But it could only distract the Ogre. Hyean mastered this task, creating several opportunities for Percy to strike. That was exactly what Percy did. He kicked the ground hard to close the distance and pierce the Ogre¡¯s heart when the time was ripe. The perfect opportunity unfolded before Percy, and he thrust his blade forward, hitting the targeted area with deadly precision. The blade penetrated the Ogre¡¯s hide with a faint screech and dug deeper. Percy felt some resistance, but it wasn¡¯t enough. The Silvron Sword pierced the Ogre¡¯s heart cleanly. Let¡¯s make sure you will never get up again. Percy twisted the blade in the Ogre¡¯s heart before pulling it out again. Only then did an interface pop up, reassuring Percy. [Inferior Ogre ¨C Mature ¨C 15,152 Prosperity] This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. ¡°Is everyone alright?¡± Percy asked instinctively, his attention pulling to Hyean and the Blueflame Hawk. The Blueflame Hawk landed on Percy¡¯s shoulder with a satisfied screech while the Gnoll Warrior retrieved its weapon from the Ogre''s corpse. It looked at the Gnoll Blade for a while but grunted in satisfaction at how much blood they¡¯d shed on the battlefield. ¡°I take that as a ¡®Yes, we are perfectly fine.¡¯¡± He chuckled and activated [Consume] all five Inferior Ogre corpses. A familiar mass of darkness filled Percy¡¯s view. It gushed out of his palm, expanded rapidly, and split into five streams heading for the Ogre corpses. Once the abomination reached the corpses, it revealed its rows of elongated teeth. Today, they looked like massive fangs as the mouth snapped close, enveloping the Ogre corpses to devour them in one go. [Five Inferior Ogres have been consumed. 73,432 Prosperity has been added.] The abomination finished its designated task and returned to its origin: Percy¡¯s insides. Percy still had no idea what the abomination was or how it related to his Ego, the Coin of Prosperity. Were the Coin of Prosperity and the abomination one and the same, or were they separate entities? Percy didn¡¯t know. He was interested in learning the truth, but it wasn¡¯t like his life depended on it. Percy was only an Ego for a few months. He had decades to discover the secrets of the Coin of Prosperity. I will be fine. Now that Hyean is a Gnoll Warrior, he can stall stronger monsters. Even Inferior Ogres are no problem anymore. If I prepare a Silvron Sword Artifact for Hyean, we might as well have no problem hunting larger groups of Inferior Ogres. A smile crept up on his face, and he looked at his status interface. ¡ºPercy ¡» [Ego ¨C Coin of Prosperity] [Tier] ¨C [Elite-3] ¡ª [Gnoll Warrior (Elite ¨C?) ¨C [Blade Mastery???],[A Hunter¡¯s Smell?], [Basic Strength Boost?]] [Blueflame Hawk (Elite ¨C ?) ] ¡ºCoin of Prosperity¡» Prosperity: 105,246 ?Consume Strengthening the Blueflame Hawk should be the most important for now. My Sword Artifact might have some fancy runic enchantments, but strengthening the Blueflame Hawk will simultaneously increase the Monster Card and Cardist. I shouldn¡¯t miss much Prosperity to unlock [Hawk Eyes]. Percy licked his upper lip and nodded slowly. It¡¯s not too late yet. I should have a few hours before it¡¯s too dark to hunt. That should leave me enough time to collect enough Prosperity to unlock [Hawk Eyes]! He clutched the Silvron Sword Artifact tightly and turned back to the Moonlight Forest. So what if I cannot participate in the Imperial training? I can still hunt the monsters of the Moonlight Forest to succeed all of you! ** A young man covered in fresh blood emerged from the densely grown undergrowth of the Moonlight Forest and stepped into the Wintermoon estate¡¯s clearing with heavy strides. His chest heaved up and down slowly, but the young man never stopped. He walked to his destination, leaving behind a trail of blood as he closed in on the Wintermoon estate. Percy¡¯s appearance attracted some attention from the camps around the Wintermoon estate, but nobody rushed over to check on him. But that wasn¡¯t needed. Most of the fresh blood wasn¡¯t his in the first place. He sustained some injuries, but they were minor or mild wounds, in the worst case. However, the reason nobody checked on him was probably the vibrant smile on his face. Nobody with enough working brain cells would be stupid enough to approach a vibrantly smiling man showered in blood and gore. That was a major black flag. Percy ignored the gazes lingering on him and walked up to the Glacia Knight Order¡¯s camp. He greeted some Glacia Knights, who fell from their chairs when they saw their young friend. Even Ulfhar and Knight Liam stared at him with slightly widened eyes when Percy appeared before them. ¡°What in the seven hells did you do in the woods? I expected you to be back much earlier.¡± The old knight scrutinized Percy and retrieved an ordinary healing potion from his storage device with a sigh. Percy accepted the potion with a smile and emptied the content at once, ¡°I encountered some Inferior Ogres, a unit of Kobold Hunters, and it looks like Blueflame Hawks don¡¯t like their kin being summoned. They attacked my Blueflame Hawk tirelessly, forcing me and my Gnoll to intervene. Dealing with winged monsters is still a little¡­difficult.¡± After dealing with a dozen Blueflame Hawks, Percy discovered some flaws in his fighting style. Fixing these flaws was going to take a while, but it wasn¡¯t like Percy lacked time. If he had anything to spare, it was probably time. Ulfhar had remained silent since Percy entered their camp. He studied the youth, his attention lingering on Percy¡¯s azure eyes. ¡°You unlocked [Hawk Eyes], didn¡¯t you?¡± The Glacia Knight Captain asked, to which Percy responded with a knowing smile. ¡°I did, and I understand why everyone likes this Augmentation so much. [Hawk Eyes] is amazing!¡± B2 Chapter 3 - [Hawk Eyes] The healing potion did its work and healed Percy quickly. Most of the wounds weren¡¯t serious and were from talons digging into his flesh. They healed quickly, leaving Percy exhausted but happy. Although he had not received permission to participate in the Imperial training, that didn¡¯t mean the Wintermoon estate was useless to him. Something about the Wintermoon estate¡ªor the clearing¡ªkept the monsters of the Moonlight Forest away. It was a safe zone, which Percy could use like he did today. The interfaces in the corner of his eyes verified that. [Blueflame Hawk Card¡¯s Augmentation -[Hawk Eyes?] has been unsealed. 150,000 Prosperity has been deducted.] Unsealing [Hawk Eyes] had been expensive, but the Augmentation was worth every Prosperity point. His vision had always been good, but it was further augmented. He could see everything up to the finest detail in his proximity and had no problems seeing far in the distance. However, the best aspect of [Hawk Eyes] was its active function. Channeling mana through his eyes ¨C circulating it in a specific method ¨C enhanced his eyesight temporarily to a much higher degree. That was something Percy discovered while fighting the Blueflame Hawks. He noticed how one Blueflame Hawk took advantage of the tiniest openings in his and Hyean¡¯s defenses to dive down and attack. The Blueflame Hawk always managed to escape their counterattack and return to the safety of the sky. Percy¡¯s Blueflame Hawk did something similar using [Hawk Eyes]. It used the Augmentations and killed several Blueflame Hawks before helping Percy and Hyean deal with the special monster, which, given how precisely it attacked, must have unlocked [Hawk Eyes] as well. Percy studied [Hawk Eyes] a little and observed the summoned Blueflame Hawk to learn and understand what his summoned monster did differently. He discovered the Blueflame Hawk¡¯s secret and copied it shamelessly. ¡°It is good to see you smiling even if you look like a creepy Berserker. I¡¯m not sure if I like what you are doing to our reputation. Rumors about the squire in the Glacia Knight Order will spread,¡± Ulfhar chuckled, but Percy could sense a note of seriousness in his voice. ¡°Officially, I¡¯m not a member of the Glacia Knight Order. Just say that you picked up a Berserker, and you will be fine,¡± Percy responded with a teasing smile. But I am happy. [Hawk Eyes] is stronger than expected. I should have no problems fighting a few Ogres or Archyeas alone. I don¡¯t even have to use my Cards to deal with a handful of them.¡± It wouldn¡¯t be easy, by any means, but Percy¡¯s confidence was justified. He had a powerful Sword Artifact and three Augmentations boosting his combat prowess. Last but not least, Percy¡¯s TIer was at Elite-3. His progress was fast, but he was aware of a few ¨C more or less ¨C annoying facts. In a city, or maybe even a town with commercial ports and a general trading focus, Percy¡¯s Tier would increase much faster. He could acquire more Armor for a low price, transform them into Artifacts, and sell them for a much higher price. The gold he¡¯d earned could then be used to repeat the process until he had enough Prosperity to acquire the strongest possible equipment. His power level would increase rapidly through ranking up, a wide variety of self-made Artifacts, and strengthening his Monster Cards. Considering that, Percy progressed a little ¡®slow¡¯ in the Wintermoon estate. Of course, Artifacts and Monster Cards were only external means of empowering him. The Wintermoon estate might not have allowed him to use the markets of a city focusing on trading with other kingdoms, but it helped him strengthen his foundation and earn experience. This place gave him different means to grow stronger if he had full access to them. Percy could sense the mana vein underneath the Wintermoon estate, but he couldn¡¯t access it. All he received from the mana vein was the remnants oozing out of the massive mansion. The commonbirth Egos, chosen to become the next generation of Imperials, and nobles were given the best resources, while Percy had to feed on the leftover mana to refine his mana control and grow stronger. If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. ¡°Once the Imperial training ends, we will return to the Reeze family¡¯s main residence. I will arrange a meeting with the Duke, and we can solve all official issues quickly.¡± Ulfhar waved his hand dismissively, ignoring the young man¡¯s expression. ¡°That¡¯s nice,¡± Percy responded, lackluster and with a forced smile. I don¡¯t know if I want to go with you in the first place. I owe you some gold, and Melissa might have invested in my future with the Blueflame Hawk, but I don¡¯t think I ever accepted my role as a future Glacia Knight. All I said was that I think it would be cool to join the Glacia Knight Order. Now¡­I¡¯m not so sure about that. Maybe it¡¯s a waste of time to follow Melissa¡¯s orders and ¡®escort and protect¡¯ her on trips like these. I have better things to do than following some nobles like a leashed dog. Percy didn¡¯t speak his thoughts aloud and would never reveal them to the Glacia Knights. He liked the Glacia Knights because they were good friends, though some looked too satisfied with his pain and suffering. That was creepy. Still, Percy would never follow in the footsteps of the Glacia Knights. They chose to follow a noble because it promised good pay and resources. However, most chose this path because they didn¡¯t have another choice. Ulfhar, who was also an Ego, might have had a different choice, but he decided against it. I am not the same. Joining a Knight Order will only slow me down. What if I¡¯m ordered to join an escort mission that wastes precious months¡­ or I have to obey someone much weaker than me? It has only been a few months, but I should have had little to no issues winning against Igor. Percy looked at Glacia Knight Igor and nodded inwardly. Igor and the other Glacia Knights trained occasionally, but they enjoyed torturing Percy with their training regime much more. Most didn¡¯t even try to hide their dislike for the knight training. That was understandable, given that most Glacia Knights were forced to train daily for over a decade before they were knighted. Percy didn¡¯t doubt that training daily for a decade was troublesome, but switching from training daily to exercising weekly or bi-weekly wasn¡¯t good. It would work for a few weeks, but Percy could already see how rusty some Glacia Knights had become. Now that [Hawk Eyes] had been unsealed, Percy discovered most openings in the Glacia Knights¡¯ gait and training regime much better. We are not made from the same wood. I think that¡¯s obvious. But even Melissa¡­She is powerful and manifested her Ego when she was fourteen. That might be young for an Ego, which is also how she became one of the top candidates in the Imperial training¡­but I manifested my Ego only a few months ago and am already closing in on her. I can catch up to her¡­and succeed her. With my Ego, I can do it! His encounter with Melissa Reeze and the Glacia Knights changed his worldview. He learned a lot about the kingdom and the other forces, but most importantly, Percy learned a lot more about himself, his ambition, his ideals, and the things he wanted to do in the future. Meeting dozens of commonbirth Egos and young heirs showed Percy where he stood and how much stronger he had to grow to surpass them. It was satisfying to see how strong he was compared to the future Imperials of the kingdom, but a seed of regret had blossomed in Percy¡¯s heart. He had expected more from this, maybe even to get to know some Egos and become their friends. Connecting to the future Imperials was never wrong, but Percy¡¯s bigger issue was that he¡­missed being around other people. The Glacia Knights were kind, and he liked them, but their relationship felt different from that with Butcher Kevin, Merchant Erdwin, Leonhard Meiser, Bertha, and Olivia. The people in Raewood had been different and intriguing. The Glacia Knights weren¡¯t boring, but they didn¡¯t tell him about themselves. His relationship with them was more¡­superficial. It wasn¡¯t that bad when we traveled. Or was that because of Melissa? Even if she acted rudely, her actions felt genuine. Percy scratched his head and contemplated. He expected to meet Melissa and the other future Imperials a few times in the last few weeks, but only a few commonbirth Egos sometimes left the Wintermoon estate. But maybe that wasn¡¯t the worst-case scenario. Most nobles would ignore Percy either way. He might as well try to make friends with many commonbirth Egos. His eyes landed on a duo of commonbirth Egos, brothers covered in cuts and bruises, and a grin formed on his lips. Another fight? That was about damn time! I almost thought the instructor tamed you two. Good thing they didn¡¯t. B2 Chapter 4 - New Company The duo of commonbirth Egos was unmistakenly brothers. They were almost two meters tall, had bronze-colored tanned skin, and their long chestnut hair was bound back to manbuns, giving them a unique appearance among the kingdom''s knights. But the brothers seemed to enjoy that as they strode through the camps of the nobles¡¯ retinues with the same prideful gait. Their physiques were also extraordinary, putting them on an even higher level than Percy, who had been working tirelessly for the last few months to improve his physique. The brothers were bulky, but their movements weren¡¯t affected, allowing them to move fluidly through the rows of tents and carriages. But Percy wasn¡¯t interested in them because of their unique appearance. The brothers had been thrown out of the Wintermoon estate several times since the Imperial training started, and their bodies were always covered in cuts and bruises. I was waiting for this. Percy licked his lips and approached the brothers. The commonbirth Egos didn¡¯t notice him at first, but one of them sniffed in the air, and his head flicked to Percy a moment later. His dark eyes studied Percy intently, attracting his brother¡¯s attention. The siblings looked at Percy, who smiled vibrantly at them. They raised their right eyebrows in unison and studied him from head to toe. Oh, right. I¡¯m still covered in monster blood. I forgot to change my clothes. Whatever, I can clean up later. ¡°My name is Percy. I saw you two a few times and was curious what you two have been doing to end up thrown out of the Imperial training so often,¡± Percy asked, still smiling. One of the brothers smiled while the other one frowned. ¡°That¡¯s none of your concern,¡± The latter grunted. He was already angry and didn¡¯t want to be bothered by a stranger. ¡°It¡¯s not my business, I know,¡± Percy shrugged, ¡°How about a spar then? If you don¡¯t want to tell me about the Imperial training and how you were thrown out, what about showing me how much you¡¯ve learned in the last few weeks?¡± The annoyed commonbirth Ego waved dismissively and turned away, but his brother¡¯s grin widened. ¡°You want to spar with me? Are you sure about that?¡± He asked excitedly, approaching Percy with a gleam in his eyes. The annoyed brother cursed quietly and turned around, ¡°Don¡¯t, Erik. You know they don¡¯t want Imperials, including future Imperials, fighting each other.¡± ¡°But that isn¡¯t a fight, Tarlek! It¡¯s a spar!¡± Erik retorted quietly, while Percy added, ¡°And I¡¯m not a future Imperial. They didn¡¯t let me participate in the training, so I¡¯m not even a future prospect.¡± Tarlek glared at Percy, who smiled back innocently. ¡°Do whatever you want. I don¡¯t care anymore. In the worst case, they throw us out of the clearing as well. At least, this nonsense will be over then.¡± Tarlek shook his head and cursed a few more times in a language Percy never heard before, but he didn¡¯t leave. Tarlek stayed and walked behind Erik, who searched for a perfect spot to spar. Erik¡¯s excitement was overflowing, which seemed part of why Tarlek¡¯s mood plummeted. What an odd pair of siblings. Percy grinned before also following Erik and Tarlek. The latter turned around and looked Percy straight in the eyes. ¡°Aren¡¯t you the Ego who came with Lady Reeze?¡± They know me? That¡¯s surprising. I don¡¯t think Melissa talked about me, or did she? ¡°You don¡¯t have to look at me like that. She didn¡¯t talk about you. Lady Reeze is being occupied by those leeches and monkeys who consider themselves her friends,¡± Tarlek immediately denied Percy¡¯s thought. ¡°I don¡¯t think I exchanged more than two words with her. Either way, there are rumors about you. You aren¡¯t part of the Glacia Knight Order, but everyone there treats you nicely. Whether that is because of your Ego and how powerful you will be in the future or because of your personality, I don¡¯t know. But what I do know is that my brother can smell strong enemies. He wouldn¡¯t be this excited if you were weak.¡± Percy¡¯s lips parted, but he silently regarded Tarlek and his brother. That is interesting. Smelling strong enemies¡­ Is that what his Ego does? Probably not. He wouldn¡¯t have been invited to participate in the Imperial training. This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. Erik waved to his brother and Percy and urged them to hurry up. He found an even path of grass that left just about enough space to spar. It wasn¡¯t massive but left enough space to attack and retreat. Percy studied the field and licked his lips. That should be enough space. ¡°Are we fighting with our Cards and Egos?¡± Percy asked, but Erik responded with a shrug. ¡°I don¡¯t mind either. As long as you and Tarlek stop me when I go wild, I will be fine with either.¡± Percy glanced at Tarlek, who looked at his brother surprised. It took him a moment to regain his senses. He cleared his throat and intervened. ¡°Let¡¯s fight without Cards and Egos. We don¡¯t want anyone to get seriously injured, do we?¡± Tarlek asked his brother dead-seriously, ¡°That being said, how about you spar in old school?¡± ¡°Unarmed?¡± Percy asked while removing his scabbard. He put it down next to Tarlek, who watched his brother¡¯s widening grin in concern. ¡°Surrender before he loses himself in the Hymne of War. It¡¯s one of his Ego¡¯s powers, and he cannot deactivate it. If you think that¡¯s unfair, we can stop this mess¡ª...¡± Percy raised his hand, ¡°I will be fine. You can jump in and help me if your brother beats me to a pulp, right?¡± He smiled vibrantly at Tarlek, who regarded Percy with newfound interest. Percy looked like an idiot, but he was certainly not a coward. That was to the brothers¡¯ liking. ¡°Get ready.¡± Percy walked over to the other side of the grass patch and changed into a standard combat stance. Erik followed suit and changed his stance. But Erik''s upper body leaned forward instead of staying in a neutral stance. His hands cracked repetitively as they twitched in impatience. He will attack right away. I don¡¯t know his Tier, but Tarlek spoke overly respectfully about Melissa. She should be stronger than them, which means our Tier should be similar. Erik¡¯s physique is better than mine, though. He must have trained longer and much harder than I did, and his Ego might have passively enhanced his physique. Or he has multiple Monster Cards with [Basic Strength Boost].] Various thoughts flashed through Percy¡¯s mind before Tarlek started with the countdown. ¡°3¡­¡± ¡°2¡­¡± Erik tensed up and lowered his body even further. He channeled mana through his lower body, whereas Percy stirred his mana to sweep through his entire body. ¡°1¡­¡± The ground underneath Erik cracked and burst open even though the commonbirth Ego had yet to move. Percy¡¯s eyes narrowed to tiny slits, and he channeled enough mana into his eyes to actively use [Hawk Eyes] That should be enough, rig¨C... ¡°Fight!¡± Erik kicked the ground with tremendous force, tearing the grass patch apart. He accelerated at a terrifying speed and closed in on Percy quickly. Erik¡¯s hands moved to the side and pulled back. He formed fists and loosened the fists after a moment again, almost as if he was trying to trick Percy. Your fighting style is not that complex. You¡¯re just trying to trick me into believing that. Once he gained a rough understanding of Erik and his actions, Percy also shot forward. He moved slightly faster than Erik and punched him in the gut. At least, it looked like Percy had been faster because his attack impacted first. However, it wasn¡¯t that Erik was slower. He just didn¡¯t care about the incoming punch. Erik pulled his hands together, interlocked his fingers, and smashed down, threatening to crack Percy¡¯s skull. Percy¡¯s eyes narrowed when he saw what was about to happen. He¡¯d seen a glimpse of the upcoming situation with [Hawk Eyes] and jumped to the side once his first punch landed. This did less damage than expected. Percy rolled over the grass and jumped up, but Erik was already there. He punched Percy in the chest, forcing Percy to twist his body and raise his arms to block the attack. However, Erik was already there to follow up with a second punch. He landed a series of quick blows, forcing Percy to respond fast and with great precision every single time. He twisted his body to escape the worst blows while blocking the remaining attacks. His arms ached even though he¡¯d been channeling mana through them to strengthen them, but he smiled nonetheless. Erik roared at the top of his lungs and attacked with more ferocity. His attacks were faster and stronger, but his pattern remained unchanged. It worked, so why would he change his pattern? That is what I mean by a simple fighting style. You¡¯re fucking strong, but your Ego¡¯s passive effect has too much control over you. Percy¡¯s eyes glimmered when he saw something from the corner of his eyes. His mana reserves boiled as it coursed through his body, enhancing his speed for a quarter of a second. He disappeared from the spot, evaded Erik¡¯s attacks, and appeared beside the wild Ego. ¡°That will hurt a little,¡± Percy said, gathering his remaining mana in the fist before it impacted. A perfect execution of a perfect liver shot. A pained groan replaced Erik¡¯s roar. His mana was unstable and escaped into the surroundings, filling the air with mythical energy. Only the white in his eyes was visible for a moment before he collapsed to the ground. Tarlek looked at his brother for a moment with a conflicted expression ¡°You didn¡¯t kill him, right?¡± B2 Chapter 5 - Genuine Tarlek was merely joking, but something in the Ego¡¯s eyes worried Percy a little. Those worries dispersed when Tarlek approached his brother to slap him in the face. ¡°Wake up, idiot!¡± Tarlek shouted as he bombarded his brother with more slaps. That looks painful. He¡¯s not holding back. Percy swallowed hard as he observed the brothers. Erik regained his senses and punched Tarlek in the chest before laughing aloud. His expression twisted in pain as he laughed, and he held the side Percy had punched, but he got up and turned to Percy with a vibrant smile. ¡°That was painful. Let¡¯s do it again!¡± Erik exclaimed while getting closer. Percy had to lift his hand quickly to stop the towering Ego from going at it right away. ¡°I used up my mana reserves to knock you out. There is no way I can spar with you again¡ªat least, if you want a fair spar.¡± Erik¡¯s lips twitched, and his excitement dwindled. ¡°How about a spar without Mana, then? We can¨C...¡± A slap to the back of his head stopped Erik in the middle of his sentence, ¡°Shut up, Erik. Look at Percy. He is covered in monster blood and must be exhausted. You can spar with him again tomorrow¡­¡± He looked at Percy, ¡°Right?¡± ¡°That¡¯s fine with me. I don¡¯t want to spend the next few weeks doing nothing but training with the Glacia Knights and hunting some monsters. Adding some spars with two commonbirth Egos sounds interesting,¡± Percy nodded, ¡°It would be even better if you could tell me what the Imperial training is all about. I can sense the mana from the mana vein in the Wintermoon estate, but I have no idea what everyone is doing there.¡± Tarlek smiled at Percy, who responded with the same expression. I was worried there for a moment, but it looks like they like fighting. Gaining their respect was much easier than it would have been with other commonbirth Egos or nobles. The brothers were rather simple people. They liked the strong, and defeating Erik in a spar showed them he would not be taken lightly. Erik wouldn¡¯t fall victim to the same trap again, but that wasn¡¯t an issue. Percy was already where he wanted to be. ¡°Your name was Percy, right?¡± Erik asked after another pained groan, ¡°I will defeat you next time!¡± Percy grinned and accepted the challenge, but Tarlek intercepted before Erik would do anything stupid, which wasn¡¯t difficult for his younger brother. Erik was more of a brawns, no brains guy. He was kind but too obsessed with combat for his own good. If Tarlek could exchange some of Erik¡¯s muscles for a better brain for his younger brother, he would do that without a second thought. ¡°You said you wanted to know about the Imperial training? Honestly, it¡¯s nothing special. There is a large hall in the Wintermoon estate¡¯s basement with several overlapping arrays. There are probably hundreds of runic enchantments used to gather the purest mana of the mana vein and store it in the Wintermoon estate, where the Imperial prospects train their mana control, use their Egos until they collapse, and learn everything an Imperial has to know. Nobles don¡¯t have to study because they know the history of Imperials, their responsibilities, and everything else an Imperial should know, which grants them more time to use their Egos and practice with the Wintermoon estate¡¯s pure mana. Some Instructors focus on Monster Concoctions and other teachings revolving around Monster Cards, and the importance of procuring Monster Cards that amplify your Ego¡¯s prowess, but most of it is boring.¡± Erik nodded vigorously and added, ¡°We are not even allowed to fight each other. Our spar was the first in weeks! These idiots aren¡¯t even teaching us how to improve our foundation. They only focus on mana purity and mana control. Mana here, mana there, mana everywhere. It is so annoying!¡± The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. Percy raised an eyebrow at Erik while Tarlek rolled his eyes before he continued. ¡°What my brother says is true, to a certain extent. The Imperial training focuses on everything related to mana, but he ignores a few factors. First, this is the Mana-focused portion of the Imperial training. It¡¯s only one ¨C and the first ¨C of multiple parts. I don¡¯t know how much you know about the Wintermoon estate or the Imperial training, but this mana vein is one of the few veins nobody else can access. The Wintermoon estate stores the vein¡¯s mana for an entire cycle, purifies and compresses it, only to release everything evenly distributed over six weeks. That way, the Imperials have six weeks to study their Ego and attain a basic mastery of it while deepening their understanding of mana. That, however, doesn¡¯t mean we neglect our bodies. The instructors ensure we¡¯re working out under the influence of pure mana for at least one hour every day. The workout sessions are highly effective thanks to the pure mana coursing through our sore veins.¡± The new information was helpful. It was good to know how long he had left to hunt monsters in the Moonlight Forest and when the Imperial prospects would leave. The Imperial prospects will probably leave together. Will we be forced to go with them? No. The Glacia Knights will go wherever Melissa goes, but the better question is¡­ Will I follow them? Probably not. The corner of his lips tugged upward. The thought of traveling to a bigger city, or maybe even the capital, was pleasant. Repaying the Glacia Knight Order and Melissa Reeze wouldn¡¯t be an issue. He could pay the Reeze Dukedom with a letter informing the chamber of finances that his debt had been paid. That shouldn¡¯t be a problem. But what will I do then? I don¡¯t think I will apply for next cycle¡¯s Imperial training. I should be stronger than most of them by the next cycle starts. Or am I aiming too high? What else do I want to do then? How about becoming like Merchant Erdwin¡­ maybe a little nicer than he is. Becoming a merchant doesn¡¯t sound like a bad idea. I can still fight, but I won¡¯t be necessary for me to jump into the Wilderness to fill my Prosperity. I can harvest many resources, and everything I own will be considered part of my Ego as long as I own a shop. It wouldn¡¯t be weird to find Artifacts, special Monster Cards, and much more in my shop, either. The thought of opening a shop in a big city, possibly even the capital, didn¡¯t sound bad. It was interesting. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you an Imperial prospect?¡± Erik asked suddenly. Tarlek¡¯s ears perked up, and he turned to Percy. ¡°My brother has a point. I don¡¯t like to brag about my brother, but he isn¡¯t the worst fighter. Our real combat experience exceeds that of most nobles and Egos our age. Only Lady Reeze and the other prodigies might be stronger than Erik, but probably only because of their Inheritance Arts and advanced Monster Cards.¡± ¡°I guess I was too late. Lady Reeze and the Glacia Knights found me on their trip to the Wintermoon estate. They had to make a stop to hunt a Demon, and some circumstances brought us together. After our encounter with a growing Infernal Lair, we ended up traveling together,¡± Percy shrugged, ¡°Unfortunately, the Instructors of the Imperial training are too stiff and inflexible. They didn¡¯t even bother listening to me and told me to participate next year if I have what it takes to become a future Imperial. One of them said things like, ¡®If you are suitable for the sacred task, you¡¯ll have to show us how patient you are.¡¯ That is utter nonsense in my opinion, but I accepted my fate after they made clear that I will be crippled if I keep interrupting their training.¡± Erik slapped Percy¡¯s back with a wide grin, ¡°That means you are just like us. If they picked you up only a little while ago, you must have gathered combat experience without anyone¡¯s help. There are only a few commonbirth Egos with powerful Egos, who are ignored and cast aside. We need to hold together and help each other!¡± Tarlek didn¡¯t say a word but regarded Percy instead. ¡°After I manifested my Ego, I became an Adventurer. I didn¡¯t have any money and nearly starved to death when I ranked up. The mana shaping nearly killed me, and I was forced to hunt some monsters. I nearly died a few times, but I quickly grew stronger using my Ego,¡± Percy affirmed Erik¡¯s guess. ¡°In that case, you are like us. Maybe not exactly like us, but our situation was similar,¡± Tarlek smiled sadly, but Percy listened up. Something about Tarlek¡¯s expression had changed over the last few minutes. The massive brothers were warming up to him. They¡¯re genuine. This is what I¡¯ve been wishing for with the Glacia Knights. No¡­this is what I felt before when I was with them. They have changed¡­or did I change? ¡°We were never Adventurers because the Guild never bothered building a Guildhall in our little village. You know, our village was too small and too far away from other towns. We rarely met Adventurers and Merchants didn¡¯t come often to us either. Nobody was wealthy, but we came by nicely,¡± Tarlek sighed deeply, the sadness in his eyes growing. ¡°At least, until the Monster Rampages started.¡± B2 Chapter 6 - Past Percy was surprised about how openly Tarlek spoke about their past, but he listened quietly. ¡°The Monster Rampage bulldozed our village easily. The two retired Adventurers living in the village tried to stall the monster masses, but they weren¡¯t strong enough to do anything. Our mother¡­she tried to protect us as well. She was caught by a pack of wolves right before our eyes and¡­torn apart. We saw her die not even ten meters before us. I can still hear her screams whenever I fall asleep when I didn¡¯t give training to grow stronger in everything¡­¡± Tarlek was a little shocked, but his expression remained stoic. Erik cursed the Monster Rampage quietly, but he didn¡¯t interrupt his brother. ¡°Our father died protecting us as well. We¡­managed to escape into the nearby forest but didn¡¯t have a direction to flee. There were no nearby settlements to seek protection from. We were alone in a forest full of monsters, and we only stopped running from the Monster Rampage when we could move no more. I don¡¯t remember how many days passed in the forest, but the monsters there attacked us often. We were easy prey and, thus, a preferential target for most monsters. A malnourished, elderly wolf attacked us. The elderly wolf must have been exiled by its pack as it was old and dying. It was alone but still strong enough to defeat two unarmed Normies.¡± Erik cleared his throat at this moment and smiled brightly, ¡°We killed it!¡± ¡°I was just about to get to that part,¡± Tarlek scoffed, ¡°Like Erik said, we managed to kill the elderly wolf. It wasn¡¯t easy, and Erik sustained some serious injuries, but we were lucky to awaken our Egos after the fight. As you should already know, some Egos require specific triggers and conditions to manifest. We think I had to defeat a monster while being a Normie, while Erik had to sustain a severe injury. It could have been something different, but the exact conditions don¡¯t matter. We manifested our Egos, and Erik, with Bloodweaver, learned to control his blood. If not for that, he would have bled to death given the severity of his injury.¡± Bloodweaver? Is that Erik¡¯s Ego? That doesn¡¯t sound like Ego-enhancing physical abilities. So, he is much stronger than this when he goes all out. Erik could crush me easily. Percy¡¯s Ego was strong, but it didn¡¯t directly enhance his combat prowess. He could use it to create and enhance his Artifacts or power up his Monster Card, but that was it. ¡°After awakening our Egos, we spent several weeks in the forest, forced to fight countless monsters. I don¡¯t remember everything of our time in the forest, but ranking up our Tier is the sole reason we survived. The mana waves of every rank-up kept us alive. We grew stronger quickly, forced to use our Egos as often as needed to defeat our enemies. I¡¯m not sure how many moons it must have been, but reinforcement reached the village or what was left of it to eradicate the Monster Rampage. We were found by the Adventurers deployed to kill the monsters and picked up.¡± Erik chuckled in irony, ¡°Two children, 13 and 14 years old, covered in countless layers of old and fresh blood, were all that was left of our beautiful, peaceful village.¡± Tarlek shrugged nonchalantly, but the sadness in his eyes couldn¡¯t be hidden, ¡°Either way, we were brought to a nearby town, tested, and the Guildhall must have recommended us for the Imperial training after we told them that we wanted to grow strong enough to take care of the Monster Rampages long before they can reach villages who cannot protect themselves.¡± Percy nodded slowly. If they wanted to get as strong as possible, becoming Imperials was probably the best way to achieve that. The Imperials were the strongest, but they were also influential. Even if they couldn¡¯t be everywhere, the Imperials could deploy forces, hire Adventurers, or support the development of Guildhalls in smaller villages. My reason for growing stronger is ridiculous compared to the responsibilities they¡¯re carrying. Erik and Tarlek are not even nobles, yet they carry such a burden¡­ Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. Their commitment to the task impressed him. Percy might not have expected to have to listen to their background story after a simple spar, but he was glad that the brothers were so open about their ambitions and desires. I¡¯m glad he told me about their story, but why does he look so confused? Did he not want to tell me about their past? Erik was still all smiley, however, Tarlek looked different. His features distorted into utter confusion. He turned to his brother, who was still smiling. ¡°I don¡¯t care,¡± Erik said lightly, which pulled Tarlek back to his senses. ¡°Sorry about that. I don¡¯t usually tell strangers about our story, and I will hate you if you start pitying us,¡± Tarlek declared in a more serious tone. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t pity you. Instead, I will bombard you with questions until you hate me,¡± Percy teased Tarlek, which caused Erik to laugh until he realized that Percy was serious. ¡°Are you for real? How about we fight instead¡­please?¡± Erik asked, but Percy and Tarlek weren¡¯t listening anymore. They turned around and walked to the brother¡¯s tent, where they chatted for hours. Percy learned a lot about the Imperial prospects, their Egos, Monster Cards, and most importantly, their strength and growth. ** Percy didn¡¯t know how late it was, but he fell asleep at some point. He woke up in the brothers¡¯ tent, only to see they were missing. ¡°Ah, right. They went back to the mansion to train,¡± Percy sighed deeply. The Imperial training is better than expected. If I could improve my mana control by a few levels by spending two months in the Wintermoon mansion, my foundation would grow a lot stronger. Unfortunately, he was not allowed into the Wintermoon mansion. Should I go out to hunt again? No. Erik and the others said they would come out again today. I can focus on my workout and leave the estate if they don¡¯t step out of the mansion until after lunch. Percy would have loved to talk more to Tarlek and Erik, maybe even train with them ¨C it was boring to train alone all day or be the sole victim of the Glacia Knight¡¯s torturous training ¨C but he would also make it without them. He started with a run around the edges of the Wintermoon estate¡¯s edges. He circulated mana through his entire body to cool him, loosen his muscles, and retain as much stamina as possible. Every circle around the Wintermoon estate took Percy a few minutes, but he didn¡¯t stop running until his legs caved in. He breathed heavily, his chest heaving up and down, and his mana reserves had been used up. His legs quivered terribly, but a faint grin blossomed. Two more laps than yesterday. Fighting strong people and learning about your weaknesses is much better than being around the Glacia Knights all day. Meeting Erik and Tarlek motivated Percy. He was weaker than them and wanted to change that. He didn¡¯t want to give Erik an easy time the next time they fought. After resting for a few minutes, Percy chuckled lightly and got up. His pores opened to absorb the surrounding mana, but filling his mana reserves to the brim would take a while. Thus, he changed his tactic and walked up to the Wintermoon mansion, where the guards blocked the entrance. Percy didn¡¯t even think about entering the mansion and nodded respectfully to the guards while sliding down the mansion wall next to one of them. He was as close to the mansion as possible and closed his eyes to sense the surrounding mana. This is much better. Now¡­.create mana tendrils and release them into the surroundings to pull more motes of mana to me¡­ Percy recited a few things he¡¯d learned over the last few things and experimented a little. He used his mana reserves to create a few tendrils of mana, which he released through his wide-open pores. The accumulated masses of mana pulled the surrounding mana motes closer like a magnet. The motes were absorbed and annexed quickly, filling Percy¡¯s reserves much faster than usual. His perception of time twisted as he absorbed more and more of the surrounding mana. The guards didn¡¯t pay much attention to Percy because he didn¡¯t make a move to enter the mansion, but their attention drifted to him occasionally, their eyes narrowed to tiny slits. Percy was clueless and continued absorbing mana until he was forcefully dragged out of meditation as two firm hands pulled him to his feet. He opened his eyes and saw Erik¡¯s vibrantly smiling face ¨C beaten black and blue ¨C before him. ¡°Hey, Percy! Let¡¯s go hunting!¡± B2 Chapter 7 - Hunt Erik and Tarlekt got expelled from the Wintermoon estate for the day. They didn¡¯t want to tell Percy what they¡¯d done to be thrown out, but given Tarlek¡¯s expression, the situation was not yet done. The brothers were bound to get punished. Percy was curious, but he wasn¡¯t going to pry. Erik was happy and led them outside the clearing in no time. ¡°Is there a specific monster you want to hunt?¡± Tarlek asked while Erik slowed down to eavesdrop on their conversation. ¡°I¡¯m not hunting a specific Monster Card, if that¡¯s what you¡¯re asking,¡± Percy responded, ¡°I don¡¯t particularly care what we¡¯re going to hunt, but it would be best if the corpse is valuable. Also, I think I must tell you what my Ego can do.¡± Before Tarlek could say anything and dissuade Percy from revealing his Ego¡¯s powers, Erik jumped forward with gleaming eyes, ¡°Tell me!¡± Percy smiled while Tarlek rolled his eyes, ¡°My Ego doesn¡¯t help me in battle, but it consumes corpses and other valuables as long as they¡¯re in my possession. The consumed objects and corpses transform into Prosperity points, which I can use to grow stronger in various ways.¡± He tapped the enchanted Silvron Sword with a knowing smile and walked ahead. ¡°You can enchant weapons with your Ego? That¡¯s crazy, dude!¡± Erik exclaimed while his brother studied Percy, ¡°Is that why Lady Reeze hired you and why the Glacia Knights have been training you?¡± ¡°Lady Reeze and I have some¡­history. But I think she keeps me along because of my Ego. She initially didn¡¯t know about my Ego, but her attitude changed slightly before we arrived at the Wintermoon estate. I haven¡¯t seen her since then, but she gave me an Elite Monster Card and ensured the Glacia Knights treated me nicely. Not that they mistreated me at any point, but¡­my relationship with the Glacia Knights changed after that.¡± Percy shrugged, not going further into detail, yet the brothers could tell how upset he was. Everything would have been much easier if Melissa had never talked to the Glacia Knights. Well, that only means I will separate from them once their business in the Wintermoon estate is over. ¡°We don¡¯t have any storage devices, so how about we leave the monster corpses to you?¡± Tarlek offered, which Percy accepted with a thin smile. The corners of his lips curled upward. Maybe everything will be better with them? It didn¡¯t take long before the trio discovered a group of River Boars. They were massive creatures with a height of more than two meters and massive ocean-blue tusks radiating mana. Their tusks were filled to the brim with mana, which they could release at any point to take their enemies by surprise. ¡°The tusks are treasures. If we can kill them cleanly before they release the mana within them, your Ego will be having a feast,¡± Tarlek explained in a whisper. Erik cracked his neck, while Percy licked his lips in excitement as Tarlek laid out a simple plan. They didn¡¯t waste any time going further into detail and finished their preparations after a few minutes. Erik and Tarlek jumped into action immediately, Tarlek unsheathing a broadsword while Erik¡¯s palms burst open. Blood gushed from his palms, shaping into two bloody yet solid war axes. He smiled from one ear to the other as he roared into the Moonlight Forest. Tarlek rolled his eyes at his brother¡¯s excitement but didn¡¯t intercept. He channeled mana into one of the two runic enchantments engraved on his Elite Sword Artifact, which released an impulse of mana into the surroundings. The River Boars were hit by the impulsive and turned around in unison. Four River Boars, all massive creatures with tremendous charging power, squeaked angrily and charged ahead. Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! A silver sheen manifested all over Tarlek¡¯s body, and he jumped into action. The brothers retreated several steps and split up. They disappeared behind two towering moon trees and skulked through the thicket while the River Boars charged ahead. They bulldozed the thicket in a single charge and turned around, only to hear a pained squeak from further away. One of the River Boars collapsed to the ground, blood-red spikes impaling its legs and abdomen. Tarlek and Erik appeared next to the squeaking River Boar with swift strides and attacked. Tarlek¡¯s broadsword cleaved down with great momentum and beheaded the River Boar while Erik¡¯s bloody war axes shot down, cutting the River Boar¡¯s body apart. The River Boar couldn¡¯t even squeal one last time. However, what it could do was transform into a massive blood bank for Erik, who absorbed the River Boar¡¯s blood. Fountains of blood gushed from the River Boar¡¯s head and cut-open abdomen, but it didn¡¯t spurt around uncontrollably. The blood transformed into streams, which led to Erik, who annexed and formed the blood, creating a red armor that covered his entire body. Another pulse of mana burst from Tarlek¡¯s sword, which seemed to enrage the remaining River Boars more than Erik¡¯s actions. They charged again, their fury pushing them to circulate mana through their bodies and accelerate. That was what Percy had been waiting for. Two River Boars were stronger and thus faster than the rest. Their full charge, controlled by wrath, led to a gap between the strongest River Roars and the remaining ¨C only slightly weaker ¨C River Boar. The three monsters were too focused on the brothers to notice Percy as he made his move. He emerged from the thicket; his timing couldn¡¯t be any better, and he swung the glowing Silvron Sword the moment he appeared beside the River Boar. The River Boar heard the rustling bushes and saw a flash from the corner of its eyes, but it recognized the potential danger too late. A whitish arc flashed as the enchanted Silvron Sword cut through the River Boar¡¯s neck. The River Boar tried to respond, but the blade severed the River Boar¡¯s head cleanly, perfectly hitting the monster¡¯s weak point. Percy shuddered at the magnificent sensation. Never did he expect the Silvron Sword to cut this easily through the River Boar¡¯s neck. He was certain the River Boar¡¯s tough hide would resist the blade slightly more. River Boar hide was known to be tough. Even the weakest parts of the River Boar¡¯s hide could be used to produce excellent Common Artifacts. But the River Boar¡¯s hide failed to protect the monster. Percy¡¯s blade cut through its neck, and it would have beheaded the creature if the blade had been a little longer. That didn¡¯t change the River Boar¡¯s fate, though. It collapsed to the ground and stopped moving. A puddle of blood formed around the River Boar as a massive amount of blood gushed out of its neck, but Percy relied on his Ego¡¯s notification to make sure the River Boar was dead. [River Boar ¨C Mature ¨C 19,835 Prosperity] That was more Prosperity than Percy expected. Still, he focused on the remaining River Boars and turned to the brothers to help them. However, they didn¡¯t need any help. A massive crimson wolf appeared next to Erik, who transformed the dead River Boar¡¯s blood into weapons that coated the Crimson Wolf¡¯s claws and fangs. The remaining blood gushed into the Crimson Wolf¡¯s bloody eyes and started glowing. The Crimson Wolf expanded and shot forward with terrifying velocity. It surpassed the River Boar¡¯s speed within seconds without losing its flexibility. It shot to the side, twisted its body to evade the mana-infused tusks, and ripped through the monster¡¯s side, gutting it open simultaneously. The blood coating the claw gushed into the River Boar¡¯s open gut and did¡­something. Percy had no idea what kind of witchery Erik practiced, but it worked out. The Crimson Claw didn¡¯t have to attack again. It disappeared into the thicket, where its bloodthirsty eyes studied what remained of the one-sided battle. The gutted River Boar collapsed and squeaked in pain and anger, and it was about to unleash the mana infused into its tusk to take Erik with it when he approached it. But Erik was prepared for that. He was faster. His Ego wreaked havoc with the River Boar¡¯s system, taking the monster out long before it could unleash the mana compressed into its tusks. Percy circulated mana through his body to help Tarlek when he saw the older brother struggling to evade the River Boar¡¯s attack. At least, that was what it looked like at first glance. Tarlek avoided getting impaled by the River Boar and¡­started glowing. The silver sheen covering his body glowed brightly suddenly and evaporated. As the silver sheen evaporated, Tarlek¡¯s momentum skyrocketed. His speed doubled, and the broadsword whisked through the air. Percy could barely follow the weapon¡¯s trajectory with [Hawk Eyes] active. He froze and swallowed hard, watching the strongest River Boar of the batch be sliced into two halves. What in the seven hells was that?!? B2 Chapter 8 - Bond To say that Percy was surprised about Tarlek¡¯s power was an understatement. Even now, he was having difficulty comprehending what Tarlek had done to accelerate suddenly. It was related to his Ego, for sure, but that was all Percy knew. ¡°How about you take the corpses instead of staring at me like this?¡± Tarlek teased Percy while Erik chuckled, ¡°Show off!¡± Percy swallowed but used [Consume] to swallow the four River Boars. The abomination burst from his palms and split up to reach the River Boars once the Interfaces popped up. Interestingly enough, the Interfaces of the River Boars killed by the brothers appeared right away. They genuinely never considered the River Boars as their property. They are much nicer than Melissa and the Glacia Knights. In the first place, Melissa is¡­complicated. He grinned faintly at that thought and waited patiently until the abomination devoured the corpses and retracted. [Four River Boars have been consumed. 86,635 Prosperity has been added.] The gains were remarkable and were the first of many hunts that would follow today and in the following days. The monsters of the Moonlight Forest were strong and considered rare in other parts of the kingdom, but their population was too big in the Moonlight Forest. They had to be hunted to rebalance the population and regulate the Moonlight Forest in the first place. ¡°What weapons and armor do you like the most?¡± Percy asked the brothers, ¡°I figured you¡¯re using a broadsword to deal massive damage with your move ¨C whatever that was earlier ¨C but neither of you wears any armor.¡± If I can purchase a Broadsword from Melissa, alongside a few Silvron Swords, I can repay my gold debt to the Glacia Knights with Silvron Sword Artifacts and create a better weapon for Tarlek to thank him for the corpses. But Erik¡­Erik¡¯s weapons are made of blood. I don¡¯t think my Ego can engrave runic enchantments on blood. If that were possible, I could only enchant my blood in the first place. I doubt something like that is possible, though. ¡°Armor slows me down. My blood armor is much more flexible and durable than most armor pieces, and I can transform it into weapons or gather the blood in a single spot to block stronger blows. An armor would slow me down. As for weapons, I like to be a little more versatile with my blood weapons. They¡¯re the best!¡± Erik exclaimed, only for Tarlek to intervene. ¡°Your blood weapons are great, but I told you to purchase a weapon Artifact. Your blood can only create weapons at the same rank as your Tier. [Bloodweaver] is strong, but a weapon Artifact with tremendous destructive power could grant you victory in a fight you would lose otherwise.¡± Erik scoffed, and his lips parted, but Tarlek lifted his hand. ¡°I know you¡¯re against that, but I think you should focus on your Monster Cards more and buy some proper Artifacts once we¡¯re out of here. It¡¯s not like we lack money after the Monster Rampage disaster and¡­¡± Tarlek stopped and waved his hand dismissively, ¡°Either way, we have enough money, use it before it will be too late!¡± He turned to Percy to answer his question, ¡°I had a few armor artifacts, but most of them are not compatible with my Ego. My Ego is a little unique if you want to put it like that, and it ends up wearing down my armor and their enchantments very quickly. A single battle, or maybe two or three if I¡¯m lucky, might destroy the average Elite Artifact. My Ego is powerful, but the drawback is that Artifacts are not that useful to me.¡± Tarlek looked at his broadsword with a bright smile, ¡°Except for this little baby. I don¡¯t know what the Artificer did with this masterpiece, but my Ego doesn¡¯t harm this one. In fact, I think the broadsword fits perfectly with my Ego. They¡¯re compatible.¡± That wasn¡¯t what Percy expected to hear, but he nodded slowly. This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. ¡°That¡¯s interesting.¡± And it¡¯s annoying because I won¡¯t be able to thank you by preparing a better broadsword for you ¨C or something else ¨C because your Ego will end up destroying it. What can I prepare instead? Erik doesn¡¯t like Artifacts, but Tarlek told him to get something. I could prepare him a small war axe with some feisty runic enchantments. He would probably like it much better than using his money. I feel like Erik would love self-made gifts much better than buying stuff. He looked at the brothers with a smile. In the worst case, I can prepare some Monster Cards for you. If we hunt like this for several hours every day for the next few days, we¡¯ll accumulate a small fortune. But getting them to ¡®gift¡¯ me their Monster Cards will be annoying. They cannot know about the transaction, otherwise, my Ego won¡¯t accept it as a ¡®fair¡¯ deal. Maybe that won¡¯t work. In the worst case¡­I upgrade a few potions with my ego. That wouldn¡¯t be too bad either. ¡°What¡¯s all this talk about Artifacts about in the first place? Let¡¯s not waste our time and keep going! We don¡¯t have all day to hunt!!¡± Erik exclaimed, dragging his brother and Percy along. ¡°But we have all day to hunt,¡± Tarlek responded. Erik glared back while Tarlek lifted his hands helplessly, ¡°That was a joke.¡± The corners of Tarlek¡¯s lips curled upward while Percy laughed aloud. He liked being around the brothers. They loved fighting and were genuine good people. The noble society had yet to tarnish their quirky personalities. ** Percy was unsure how the brothers did it, but they left the Wintermoon estate every day around the same time. He worked out for about an hour and rested, leaning back near the entrance to the Wintermoon estate where his mana would replenish. Percy also trained his mana control like everyone, but his progress was slow. He was already fairly advanced ¨C Percy discovered that when he compared his mana control with Tarlek and Erik ¨C, and it was far more challenging to progress further without proper teaching. Tarlek and Erik taught him a lot in the last few days, but he was most interested in gaining combat experience and studying Tarlek and Erik. It looked like leaving the Wintermoon estate and fighting monsters helped them progress faster, which was something the Imperial Instructors must have noticed. More commonbirth Egos left the Wintermoon estate several hours a day to enter the Moonlight Forest for various purposes. Percy and the brothers discovered some commonbirth Egos harvesting herbs and natural treasures, while others fooled around. One way or another, more Imperial prospects left the Wintermoon estate than before. While that was interesting, Percy and the brothers focused more on their task. They were on the hunt most of the day and chatted whenever the surroundings were clear of monsters. Their bond tightened and Percy was sure that Tarlek and Erik were his friends now. ¡°How much longer do you want to let us wait?¡± Erik asked impatiently, ¡°Didn¡¯t you want to show us something special?!¡± The corners of Percy¡¯s lips curled upward. They were currently in the middle of the Moonlight Forest, probably in one of the deepest parts of it. After hunting a large pack of Viridian Wolves, Percy finally had enough Prosperity to change his combat style. Well, maybe Percy would alter his combat style by adding more varieties. [Blueflame Hawk Card¡¯s Augmentation -[Frostbite ????] has been unsealed. 1.000,000 Prosperity has been consumed] [Your Tier increased by one rank] The interfaces were beautiful. Unsealing [Frostbite] might have been expensive, but Percy didn¡¯t regret it. He had been in dire need of a subtle change in his combat style, a means to alter his style easily. [Frostbite] would change everything. He pointed behind Erik, who turned around, expecting to see something, only for something to hit the back of his head. His hand reached out and touched the hit spot¡­only to feel something cold. He looked at his hand and frowned deeply. ¡°Is that snow?¡± He looked up to Percy, who had conjured a few snowballs, which he hurled at Erik one after another. Tarlek chortled, seeing his brother under the barrage of snowballs until one hit him square in the face. ¡°Oopsie,¡± Percy mumbled, but his vibrant smile indicated that he wasn¡¯t sorry at all. ¡°You!!¡± Tarlek roared, charging behind Percy, who spun around to flee from the scene. The brothers hunted Percy through the Moonlight Forest, but neither realized where they were headed. B2 Chapter 9 - Turning Point The trio was startled by the appearance of a large creature. A Silverdusk Bear emerged from the entrance of a small cave, woken up from the commotion caused by Percy and the brothers. ¡°I will attract its attention!¡± Tarlek shouted, brandishing his broadsword. He activated the runic enchantment, which released a mana pulse into his surroundings. Erik¡¯s smile was replaced with a more serious expression and he summoned two bloody war axes again while Percy brandished the Silvron Sword. Maybe we shouldn¡¯t have played around like fools in a forest full of powerful monsters. That ¡®might¡¯ have been an mistake. Percy groaned inwardly but watched the Silverdusk Bear intently as it charged Tarlek. The Silverdusk Bear was a massive creature that reached up to three meters once it stood on its hind legs. It had tough silverish-brown spotted fur that was tougher than most metals. The Silverdusk Bear was among the strongest Elite Monsters in the kingdom. Tarlek¡¯s body was coated in a silver sheen, which exploded right before the Silverdusk Bear¡¯s paw smashed down. Tarek¡¯s momentum reached a new high as he moved. He evaded the incoming attack and altered the paw¡¯s trajectory with his broadsword. He blocked the attack by angling the broadsword blade perfectly, creating a minuscule opening, which Erik and Percy grasped. Erik moved instinctively after fighting with his older brother for years. Their teamwork was seamless. On the other hand, Percy had to rely on [Hawk Eyes] to make up for his lack of seamless teamwork. But it worked out just fine. Erik¡¯s bloody war axes expanded as he cleaved down, ready to sever the Silverdusk Bear¡¯s paw. The war axes impacted, but the expected fountain of blood never came. The Silverdusk Bear¡¯s fur stiffened around the area of impact and hardened, drastically decreasing the damage inflicted by Erik. Even though his attack was executed with every bit of strength, Erik barely scratched the Silverdusk Bear. Only a few droplets of blood trickled from the injury before the monster¡¯s rapid regeneration jumped into effect, stopping the bleeding. Still, Erik smiled. The injury might not seem like a lot, but [Bloodweaver] actively absorbed the monster¡¯s blood. The droplets merged with Erik¡¯s war axe, enhancing the blade. Next time, Erik¡¯s cleave would inflict more damage! Percy didn¡¯t even try cutting through the Silverdusk Bear¡¯s fur. He let Erik attract the monster¡¯s attention while using [Frostbite] to form an icicle in his hands. His control of the Augmentation was still lackluster, and it drained far more mana than necessary, but Percy¡¯s mana control allowed him to create what he wanted. It also aided his wish to replicate one of Melissa¡¯s simple attacks. Percy inched closer to the Silverdusk Bear until he was beside the creature and released the icicle, once fully formed, with a burst of mana. The attack wasn¡¯t perfect, but his accuracy was high enough. The icicle hit one of the monster¡¯s eyes with enough precision but pierced only a little into the eyeball before the Silverdusk Bear closed its eyelids, severing the icicle. But that was enough. The icicle shattered, releasing all properties of [Frostbite] into the surroundings. The icicle, no longer forced into an unfamiliar shape, transformed into a freezing mist, which spread through the Silverdusk Bear¡¯s eye and eyelid. The creature roared in pain and surprise and spun to Percy, who had already retreated. He summoned the Blueflame Hawk and sent it into the air while retreating further. Tarlek jumped before Percy while Erik shot forward with a roar. His chest was covered in a bloody armor made of his blood, but that wasn¡¯t as useful as expected. The Silverdusk Bear struck Erik with a swift block of the back of its paw. Erik was flung through the air and disappeared into a shrub, where a loud noise indicated his heavy impact on the ground. A tinge of worry blossomed in Percy¡¯s heart, but Tarlek remained calm. His body glimmered more vibrantly in the familiar silver tone as he made his move. He pushed forward and charged that charging beast. Tarlek raised his weapon and attacked. However, instead of attacking alone, many things happened at once. If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. A massive tree appeared next to Tarlek. No, it wasn¡¯t a tree. It was a sentient monster¡ªa Treant. The Treant lifted what Percy presumed to be its arms¡ªthe creature looked grotesque, with features indicating a human appearance but other features showing its lack of understanding¡ªand released large roots to restrain the Silverdusk Bear or slow it down if restraining didn¡¯t work. Simultaneously, the Crimson Wolf of Erik emerged from the shrubs alongside Erik, whose expression was worse than before. He didn¡¯t look happy at all. His face was filled with uncontrollable anger and a trace of¡­concern? Percy was already on the move, his Silvron Sword shining after he¡¯d activated [Sharpness]. He was about to activate [Frostbite] to augment the Silvron Sword further when his Ego reacted. Erik, cursing under his breath, looked at his brother and Percy. ¡°There is a human body in the undergrowth!¡± Erik shouted angrily while still charging the Silverdusk Bear, ¡°It doesn¡¯t look like the Silverdusk Bear did it though¡­¡± Tarlek barely heard his brother because he was about to collide with the Silverdusk Bear and had to focus on the fight ahead, but the concern in Erik¡¯s voice got to him. Something was very wrong here. Tarlek¡¯s senses heightened to their limits. Time around him seemed to slow down, and his eyes narrowed to tiny slits. ¡°Shit.¡± He mumbled, less than a meter separating him from the Silverdusk Bear. However, the Silverdusk Bear was no longer a problem. ¡°We are not alone!¡± Tarlek roared, diving to the side without regard for his safety instead of facing the Silverdusk Bear head-on like he¡¯d intended. Something is wrong here. Why is the forest so silent all of a sudden? And a corpse? What is a human corpse doing here? Nobody should have ventured this deep into the Moonlight Forest. We are probably the only ones¡­But wh¨C... Percy¡¯s train of thought was interrupted when the Silverdusk Bear charged past Tarlek, its paw sweep nearly cutting him open, and a familiar noise resounding through the small clearing and the surrounding forest. A cacophony of giggles reached Percy¡¯s ears. The sound had already been imprinted into his mind from his past experiences, and hearing it again caused his hair to stand up to its end. He swallowed hard. Percy froze for a quarter of a second, but his mind rattled wildly, forcing him to get moving quickly. ¡°Run!!¡± Percy roared at the top of his lungs, ¡°There are Demons in the Moonlight Forest!¡± Why in the seven hells are there demons in this forest?! Didn¡¯t the Baron check the Moonlight Forests for demons before the Imperial training?? Ah, fuck!! A massive shadow crashed into the ground in front of Percy. It didn¡¯t smash into him, but the thought of it happening caused him to shudder. Percy¡¯s heart sank a bit when he saw the familiar stretchy purplish hide of the Archyeas before him, but the presence of the Lesser Demon wasn¡¯t as oppressive as it used to be. Percy wasn¡¯t what he used to be. The surroundings were a mess. Percy lost sight of the brothers and the Silverdusk Bear. Instead, [Hawk Eyes] showed him a few dozen shadows emerging seemingly out of nowhere. At least two dozen Archyeas appeared in the clearing, and from the cacophony of giggles, Percy could indicate that there were still more. A screech from the Blueflame Hawk reached Percy¡¯s ears as a large icicle made of [Frostbite] smashed into the Archyeas standing before him. It didn¡¯t kill the Archyeas, but the freezing properties and the impact didn¡¯t go unnoticed. Percy gained courage from his summoned Monster¡¯s attack, clutched his Sword Artifact tightly, and circulated mana through his body. I am stronger than I used to be. Dealing with an Archyeas, maybe even multiple Lesser Demons, shouldn¡¯t be a problem anymore! Percy kicked the ground hard, gaining momentum quickly as he pushed forward. He accelerated, brandished his Sword Artifact activated both [Sharpness] and [Frostbite] to enhance the upcoming attack and swung his blade. It was only at this moment that Percy realized that he was faster than the Archyeas. Until now, Percy had had a few nightmares of their encounter with the Archyeas and the Pleacis. The encounter was terrifying, but in the nightmares, it was even worse because he would have to deal with the Infernal Lair alone. That was even more reason to be afraid now that he encountered them again. Yet, instead of picking the flight modi, Percy beheaded the Archyeas before him with a single slash. The Archyeas died, and an interface popped up, but Percy¡¯s attention was pulled to the brothers¡ªor it would have if not for a massive black creature tearing apart the Silverdusk Bear. A creature at the top of the food chain in the Moonlight Forest, a mighty Lord¡­was torn apart as easily as some tear apart a piece of bread. Oh, shit. An Elite Demon again. Really!? B2 Chatper 10 - Run The Silverdusk Bear didn¡¯t look as terrifying as it used to, but that was understandable. Instead of terrifying others, it had been torn into shreds, nourishing the ground with its deep red blood as it poured out of the torn body parts. The blood either flung through the air as smaller body parts were hurled around mindlessly or trickled into the ground, where they merged with soil. Percy didn¡¯t have the nerve or time to analyze what type of Elite Demon appeared in the clearing. He was too focused on killing one Archyeas and searching for the brothers to think about anything else. It was only fortunate that the Elite Demon paid no attention to its surroundings. All it cared for was to keep tearing the Silverdusk Bear¡¯s carcass apart. There they are! Percy found the brothers. They¡¯d retracted their summoned Monsters after also killing one Archyeas each. They rushed to Percy while gesturing to him to turn around and run. Percy was the one who told everyone to run but had yet to flee the scene. He turned and dashed into the thicket. Erik and Tarlek caught up to him, but the situation was far from over. There were still more than two dozen Archyeas in their surroundings, and nobody knew if there were more in the Moonlight Forest. Maybe they were currently headed to a group of Demons and didn¡¯t know about it. ¡°The Elite Demon is coming for us!¡± Tarlek cursed and slowed down, ¡°I¡¯ll stall it. You better reach the Wintermoon estate quickly!¡± He stopped, brandished his sword, and coated his entire body, including the broadsword, in a thick silver hue. Why is he doing that? Is Tarlek suicidal? Percy was about to stop and turn around to help Tarlek, but Erik grasped his shoulder and pushed him forward. ¡°Don¡¯t even think about it. You will kill both of you if you stop now.¡± Erik said dead-serious, not a trace of sadness in his eyes. Doesn¡¯t he care about his brother? No. I know he cares a lot about Tarlek, but¡­he is confident Tarlek will survive this¡­ is that it? Percy was unsure about this, but he circulated mana through his lower body and pushed ahead. They moved quickly through the Moonlight Forest, ignoring the commotion behind them. Tarlek roared, and the sound of metal colliding with metal resounded. That was the last thing they heard before a small group of Archyeas appeared before them. ¡°I swear¡­These Demons never learn their lesson,¡± Erik growled, summoning the Crimson Wolf and bloody war axes. He threw one of the war axes at one Archyeas, who lifted his claws to block the attack. But before the bloody war axe could impact, it split apart and transformed into a set of daggers. The projectiles¡¯ trajectory changed once the war axe split up, and they struck one of the nearby Archyeas in the arm and another in his chest. The daggers burst apart and transformed into bloody red fog. An icicle descended from the sky and pierced the gaping hole in the injured Archyeas¡¯ chest, killing the Lesser Demon on the spot. Simultaneously, Percy made his move, attacking the Archyeas on the right. He cleaved through the Archyeas¡¯ arm, severed it, and executed a quick follow-up attack to kill the demon. [Blade Mastery] worked better than expected, especially once combined with [Hawk Eyes]. Percy could pinpoint various openings through the latter because his understanding of the blade and bladed combat was so high. It elevated his combat prowess drastically. He didn¡¯t lose much momentum and pushed forward. The Crimson Wolf eliminated another Archyeas, while Erik and Percy dealt with the last one together. Percy¡¯s mind rattled like crazy, but he didn¡¯t forget to use [Consume]. Even now, Erik didn¡¯t consider the Archyeas as his property. The abomination of his Ego shot out and split up, consuming the group of Archyeas instantly. [Four Archyeas have been consumed. 71,593 Prosperity has been added.] If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. He ignored the message and continued moving. Maybe the Prosperity was needed soon. If it was, Percy would be happy to have enough stored. If not, that would be great, too. Percy didn¡¯t know how long it took them to reach the Wintermoon estate, but it shouldn¡¯t have been long. His legs burned fiercely, and dozens of cuts indicated that he¡¯d charged through a few thorny bushes, but none of that mattered. He looked at Erik, whose expression changed slowly. ¡°What now?¡± He asked, looking back to the Moonlight Forest with a trace of worry. Now that they were in the clearing of the Wintermoon estate, Erik¡¯s confidence in his brother¡¯s survival plummeted slowly. ¡°We will¨C...Melissa!¡± Percy scanned the people in the Wintermoon estate, hoping to find Ulfhar, but he located Melissa instead. That might as well be better. Melissa was with her noble friends. Under normal circumstances, Percy wouldn¡¯t have approached her, but the situation was dire, and it was unclear what was about to happen. However, one thing was sure. If there was a Demon, chaos, death, and destruction would follow sooner rather than later. Percy rushed to Melissa and her friends. He ignored their disgusted expressions and stared straight at Melissa, who studied him from head to toe. She and her friends were dressed in light dresses and ready to relax for the first time in weeks. There was no way in the seven hells she would allow Percy to destroy her first day off. Still, Melissa didn¡¯t say anything when she saw the fresh, dark blood splatters on his face and clothes. A bad feeling resurfaced on Melissa¡¯s mind all while her noble friends scowled at Percy. One of them was about to say something, but Percy was faster. He sensed the situation would escalate if he didn¡¯t speak up before the nobles. ¡°There are Demons in the forest. Something is out there¡­Something stronger than the Mutant Pleacis. It should be an Elite Demon, but¨C¡­¡± Percy was interrupted when one of the nobles said, ¡°A Demon Ward protects the entire Moonlight Forest and the Mana Vein empowers the Demon Ward. Not even Greater Demons should have an easy time entering the Moonlight Forest. Why are you lying, peasant?¡± Percy squinted his eyes, but it was Melissa who silenced the noble before he could continue to throw insults at Percy. ¡°Shut it, Felix.¡± Melissa looked at the Wintermoon estate mansion for a moment and turned back to study Percy¡¯s clothes and his eyes. She also noticed Erik, who had been bragging about his new friend and noticed the dark blood on his clothes. ¡°His brother?¡± Melissa asked, and Percy understood right away. ¡°Tarlek stayed behind to stall time for us. I¡­don¡¯t know if he¡¯s still alive.¡± He winced and clenched his fists tightly until his fingernails dug deep into his palm. Blood trickled to the ground. Melissa nodded and turned to Felix. ¡°Gather the others,¡± She told him, but the young noble wasn¡¯t having it, ¡°But Melissa¨C...¡± Melissa glared at Felix, ¡°That was not a request.¡± ¡°Okay¡­¡± Felix glared at Percy but rushed back to the Wintermoon estate, where he gathered the others. Melissa gave her friends a series of orders, who didn¡¯t even try to retort. They weren¡¯t sure if Percy could be trusted, but it was better to follow Melissa¡¯s order and complain to her or use her as a scapegoat if it was a false alarm than doing nothing. If something was about to happen and they didn¡¯t do anything even though they knew something might happen¡­their reputation would suffer greatly. Not only would their image be crushed and tarnished, but their families would suffer alongside. Melissa¡¯s friends rushed to their Knights¡¯ camps, where they gathered their forces and Artifacts to prepare for whatever awaited them. Melissa looked at Percy once but didn¡¯t utter a single word. She gestured to him to follow and rushed to the Glacia Knight Order¡¯s camp. ¡°Glacia Knights, get ready for combat!!¡± She bellowed, bringing a motion to the camp. It¡¯s good that she trusts me, but I don¡¯t know if the Demons will attack the Wintermoon estate in the first place. I just said that there are Demons. But then again¡­it¡¯s probably better to be prepared and ready to jump into the offense than stay passive and in defense against the Demons. Despite the danger, Percy couldn¡¯t help but smile faintly. Melissa had grown a lot. She was not the same person he used to know. The Melissa of the past wouldn¡¯t have trusted him. She would have laughed at him, maybe even punished Percy for speaking up to her. Fortunately, Melissa didn¡¯t do that anymore. She trusted him but depended on whatever her senses picked up to determine the truth. This Melissa was much better than the old one. Unfortunately, Percy¡¯s smile didn¡¯t last long. A piercing scream echoed through the Wintermoon estate, stirring the entire clearing awake. The threat wasn¡¯t coming from the Moonlight Forest. The enemy was already here! B2 Chapter 11 - Doom of Power The scream reverberated through Wintermoon estate, alarming everyone. Melissa glanced at Percy for a moment and rushed to the Glacia Knight Order¡¯s camp. The Glacia Knights were already up and rushing to put on their armor. Even though their armor pieces were easier to put on than ordinary pieces of metal as Artifacts with high magical attunement and special functions that made it easier to put them on, it took a few minutes before everyone was ready to fight. Melissa spent those minutes, checking her equipment, retrieving potions ¨C she handed a few to Percy, who accepted them without a word ¨C, and check out the mansion. The nobles, commonbirth Egos, and instructors rushed out of the mansion, their bodies either drenched in sweat or blood. Two instructors were badly injured, one of them missing an arm, and two more Instructors of the Imperial training were missing. They¡¯re probably dead. Percy didn¡¯t know how many Imperial prospects had been in the mansion, but the number emerging from it was less than expected. ¡°Heaven bless if the rest of them took the day off to roam the forest,¡± Melissa mumbled, but Percy was unsure if that would have been better. I don¡¯t know how many Demons are in the Moonlight Forest. We saw dozens, and there are probably a lot more. Terrifying screeches and eerie gaggling resounded through the Wintermoon estate as if on cue. Several windows of the mansion shattered, and Archyeas and other Lesser Demons, which Percy had never seen before, jumped out of them. Simultaneously, a handful of shadows emerged on the mansion¡¯s rooftop. They weren¡¯t as tall as the Elite Demons, but [Hawk Eyes] tracked them immediately, The shadows were the size of an adult man and were covered in coats and masks. From a simple glance, Percy couldn¡¯t tell whether they were demons hiding their appearance or if they were¡­human. But that didn¡¯t matter at this moment. Their identity might be crucial later, but survival was Percy¡¯s utmost priority right now. Thus, his attention trailed to an oddly familiar crimson marble levitating between the masked enemies. ¡°An Infernal Lair,¡± Percy pointed at the marble, pulling Melissa¡¯s attention to the rooftop. ¡°There are probably multiple Infernal Lair Seeds like the one we¡¯ve encountered in the mansion,¡± Melissa cursed, retrieving her Wand Artifact to jump into action. ¡°How did they get through the Demon Ward?¡± Ulfhar asked quietly, forcing Melissa to halt in her tracks. ¡°I¡­don¡¯t know,¡± She responded, while clutching the wooden wand tightly, ¡°But I do know the Demon Ward in the Wintermoon estate would have sensed powerful demonic essences. The Infernal Lair Seeds were probably perfectly concealed and will release only a few dozen Lesser Demons and some Elite Demons into the Wintermoon estate before their energy is used up. A fully nurtured Infernal Lair Seed wouldn¡¯t have made it through the Ward!¡± Even if there was a handful of Infernal Lair Seeds like the one they¡¯d cleared, nothing bad should happen. The Glacia Knights were strong enough to deal with one half-nourished Infernal Lair. There were almost a dozen Orders, and dozens of Egos stronger than the average Knight present. As long as the Knight Captains and Instructors fought the strongest Elite Demons, the Wintermoon estate and every living in it should survive. Unfortunately, that would have been too easy. Percy¡¯s attention pulled back to the Infernal Lair Seed while the masses of Demons surged out of the mansion. Something about this is off. What are those shadowy figures doing? And why is the Seed¡¯s color changing? Percy was right when he thought something big was about to happen. He held his breath as the Infernal Lair seed levitated above the mansion. The shadowy figures jumped from the rooftop and landed amid the crowd of Demons, leaving the levitating marble alone. The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. The marble changed into a deep violet tone as it comprised, but the changes didn¡¯t last long. [Hawk Eyes] improved Percy¡¯s vision enough to see tiny cracks in the compressed seed. The Infernal Lair Seed was transformed into something else and exploded. A large shockwave, eerily black in color, swept through the clearing, tearing the mansion¡¯s rooftop apart before moving onward. The shockwave¡¯s destructive power decreased drastically once the rooftop was no more, but Percy had a bad feeling. His Ego reacted violently, stirring within him as the shockwave swept through him. The shockwave didn¡¯t harm him, yet something happened. The shockwave left behind remnants of the same vibrant violet color the Infernal Lair Seed had changed into. It didn¡¯t affect Percy directly, but he sensed several changes in the surroundings. The Blueflame Hawk, which Percy had summoned earlier, fell from the sky and stopped moving. It wasn¡¯t dead, but the shockwave did something to it. Percy reached down to capture the Blueflame Hawk, but something unexpected happened when it landed in his arms. The Blueflame Hawk was pulled back into Percy the moment they touched. I cannot sense the Gnoll Warrior, either. Whatever this is, this prevents me, and probably everyone else, from summoning our Monsters. Their Augmentations are still present and unchanged, but this mixture of demonic essence and whatever it is mixed with restrains all Monster Cards and¡­ Percy¡¯s eyes fell upon Ulfhar, who collapsed to the ground. He was still alive and didn¡¯t seem injured, but his head was covered in beads of sweat. Something was happening to Ulfhar and some other Knights all over the clearing, yet they didn¡¯t seem physically injured. ¡°Doom of Power,¡± Melissa cursed, ¡°They¡¯re going all out.¡± She noticed Percy¡¯s confusion but didn¡¯t go into detail. Instead, she ordered Knight Liam and others to bring Ulfhar into safety while Igor approached Michael, his Sword Artifact unsheathed. ¡°Doom of Power is an exotic device of the Demons of the seven hells. It¡¯s rarely used because it restrains all powerhouses above the Elite Tier. This includes Demons. We block our channel to the Monster Cards too, but this is not as bad as it sounds¡­if you want to stay positive.¡± Percy raised an eyebrow, but Igor only shrugged. ¡°At least, the Doom of Power drains the Demons¡¯ demonic essences to keep it active.¡± So, Elite Demons will be our strongest adversary, and they cannot fool around with their demonic essence, either? That¡¯s good¡­if not for losing Ulfhar and the other Knight Captains to the Doom of Power. This will be a lot more bloody than I was hoping for. Even though Percy would have loved to learn more and prepare for the worst-case scenario, there was no more time to talk. The Archyeas and other Lesser Demons had already reached the camps. ¡°Think of the Demons as my property, please!¡± Percy shouted in the group of Glacia Knights, ¡°I will return the favor with some nice Sword Artifacts later.¡± Since the Glacia Knights knew what Percy was talking about, they nodded silently and formed a defensive formation around Melissa, who walked ahead. She formed several icicles as thick as her fists and released them with a burst of energy. The first barrage of icicles didn¡¯t even hit the Lesser Demons when the second round had already been formed. The first icicles exploded in the eye socket of one Lesser Demon and hit the wings of two Archyeas. The former died, while the latter lost their momentum. The second barrage of icicles struck the Archyeas and killed them. Percy was impressed at the display of Melissa¡¯s power. She had grown much stronger in the last few months. But that was expected. Percy was the same, after all. He charged forward, [Sharpness] and [Frostbite] enhancing the Silvron Sword. [Hawk Eyes] was also full in motion, just like [Blade Mastery] as he emerged before the first three Lesser Demons. One looked like a smaller and very dark version of a crippled Minotaur, while the two others were oversized Gnolls with black eyes, hide, and an overwhelmingly disgusting smell. Percy studied the three Lesser Demons, determined their prowess, movement, and most likely course of action, and responded accordingly. He blocked the first Demonic Gnoll¡¯s claw and froze it with [Frostbite]. He twisted the blade as he blocked the attack to retain momentum, which he needed to spin around and inflict mild cuts across the other two Lesser Demons¡¯ chests. [Sharpness] ensured the blade cut deep enough into their chest to do some damage, while [Frostbite] froze the flesh around the wound. The frozen bits and pieces of flesh cracked and fell apart when the Lesser Demons moved, worsening the injury. The corners of Percy¡¯s lips tilted upward. Since you¡¯ve attacked us, I might as well reap some benefits. You guys better die quickly. My Ego is hungry! B2 Chapter 12 - Bolt Percy moved around the three Lesser Demons like a whirlwind. They attacked him relentlessly, but their claws, fangs, and paws never hit him. Percy twisted his body, evading several attacks simultaneously without responding with a counterattack until the perfect opportunity appeared before his eyes. He located a weak spot in the Demonic Gnoll¡¯s defense and struck. The Silvron Sword whizzed past the Gnoll¡¯s claws and pierced deep into the Lesser Demon¡¯s chest. Percy¡¯s mana churned and was drained quickly as he activated [Frostbite] to freeze the Gnoll¡¯s chest as he pulled out. The Gnoll roared in pain and tried to attack, but the strength left its body. Sensing his opportunity, Percy closed in again and slashed the Demon¡¯s throat. A fountain of dark, almost black blood spurted through the surroundings and on Percy¡¯s face, but he spun around and zig-zagged around the other attackers. The two Lesser Demons facing him were already injured and slower than their dead companion. Percy relied on his combat experience and personal strength to sever the head of one Lesser Demon and cut off the other Gnoll¡¯s arm before he drove the Silvron Sword deep into the Demon¡¯s chest. Several interfaces popped up around him, but Percy focused only on the Lesser Demons he¡¯d been hunting. They were dead and wouldn¡¯t cause death and destruction anywhere anymore. Why are there so many of them? Did Melissa guess wrong, and is the Demon Ward weaker than expected? Percy took a few deep breaths while looking left and right. The situation was worse than expected as the number of Lesser Demons emerging from the mansion kept increasing. It had already crossed 100, which was bad, but the streams of dark figures weren¡¯t decreasing. It didn¡¯t seem like it would decrease anytime soon. This will be a long fight. He looked down at his belt, where he¡¯d attached several potions Melissa had given him. I should put enough Prosperity points aside to upgrade some potions. I might need them later. Percy swallowed hard but jumped into action. It would have been great if he could use his Monster Cards more actively, but maybe that was for the best. There were too many Demons, and they would tear his summoned Monsters apart. Percy couldn¡¯t afford to lose their Augmentations. That would weaken him too much. He cursed himself for wasting too much precious time and activated [Consume]. The Lesser Demons in his proximity slowed down and turned to Percy. To be precise, they eyed the massive abomination as it burst out of his palms. His hands cracked, and it was more painful than usual to use [Consume] and control the abomination. Still, the abomination behaved like always. It split into more than a dozen streams and shot toward all demon corpses that his Ego considered Percy¡¯s property. There were more than expected, but that was for the better. The abomination¡¯s streams of utter darkness smashed into the corpses, swallowed them, and retracted. [8 Archyeas, 4 Gnylds, and 5 Minos have been consumed. 219,945 Prosperity has been added.] Only after the abomination disappeared inside Percy again did the surrounding Demons start moving again. But something had changed about their approach. The Demons further away from Percy turned away while those closer to him charged at the Glacia Knights and Melissa. Melissa and the others are stronger and thus bigger threats, but I¡¯m standing here alone. Why¡­would they not attack me first? Percy frowned, and his confusion intensified as one of the Minos charged past him after he inched closer to Melissa and the Glacia Knights. He spun to the side, activated [Sharpness], and cleaved through the Minos¡¯ neck, killing the Lesser Demon easily. ¡°Did you just get ignored?¡± Igor shouted through the formation, only for Percy to shrug. ¡°I think they¡¯re afraid of my Ego,¡± Percy shouted back, recalling his fight with the Adventurers and how afraid the other Adventurers had been when the abomination of [Consume] went wild. A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. The abomination is scary, but it doesn¡¯t harm them. Are the Demons too stupid to understand that? Percy didn¡¯t know, yet he knew how to take advantage of the situation. He kept the Silvron Sword¡¯s enchantment active, stayed in the background, and attacked the Lesser Demons once they reached the Glacia Knights. ¡°Stay guarded! A pair of Pleacis and Doomfeeder emerged on the battlefield!¡± An unfamiliar voice reverberated through the surroundings. Percy¡¯s head flicked to the side to a middle-aged man, probably one of the vice captains of another Knight Order. He was leading his Knight Order and two more Orders into the battle against two Pleacis ¨C fortunately not mutated ones ¨C and a pair of massive bulks of black meat, the Doomfeeders. Doomfeeders were also Elite Demons, terrifying creatures who fed on the emotions of their enemies, mostly fear, the sensation of impending doom, and so forth. They were close to three meters tall, looking like humans with hunchbacks and massive pillars instead of hands. The massive meat pillars were too heavy, forcing the Doomfeeders to walk like gorillas, just that their meat pillars were more dangerous than the average gorilla punch. This is going to cost lots of liv¨C... Percy couldn¡¯t even finish his thought when something whizzed through the air. Even with the [Hawk Eyes] Augmentation, Percy barely saw something black flash before his eyes. It came from somewhere around the mansion and hit its target ¨C the vice-captain charging the four Elite Demons ¨C square in the chest. The unfortunate man was hurled around and landed hard on the ground, where he didn¡¯t get up. He remained on the ground, unmoving, something black sticking out of his chest. The object, sizzling loud enough for the Knights around him to hear, was a bolt of compressed lightning, eerily black and bubbling like boiled water. A shudder crawled up Percy¡¯s spine when he realized what, or rather who had attacked the vice-captain. The shadowy figures standing amid the masses of Lesser Demons had made their first move. One of them lifted their hands, and black electricity currents swirled playfully around their gloves. Percy¡¯s eyes widened. Under normal circumstances, the lightning current¡¯s power would have shocked him ¨C it still did ¨Cbut his focus lay on another fact. How can he wield an element if he¡¯s a Demon? Didn¡¯t Igor say the demonic essences of all Demons were drained and blocked to maintain the Doom of Power? How is that possible? Percy heard legends of Demons capable of wielding Monster Cards, but even if that was the cause, it wouldn¡¯t matter. Demons don¡¯t have any mana. They control demonic essence. Even if they have Monster Cards with Augmentations like this, they wouldn¡¯t be able to activate them under the influence of Doom of Power. His eyes widened in surprise as the only obvious conclusion came to his mind. Humans. ¡°Humans¡­¡± Melissa cursed under her breath, thick droplets of sweat trickling down her temples. She came to the same conclusion as Percy but couldn¡¯t pay too much attention to it. Lady Reeze had already killed more than a dozen Lesser Demons with her Ego and was out of breath. Her mana boiled as it churned through her veins, yet she was ready to keep going. Nonetheless, her mana was too drained to fight recklessly with her Wand Artifact. The wand returned to her spatial storage, and a familiar sword appeared in her hands instead. ¡°Focus on protecting each other. I do not want to lose anyone to these demonic bastards. Try to strike down as many as you can without exposing yourself,¡± Melissa glanced at Percy and nodded once, ¡°And surrender these god-forsaken corpses to Percy. Once the Doom of Power is lifted, the corpses will infest the Moonlight Forest, and I don¡¯t think anyone wants that!!¡± Several interfaces popped up right after Melissa¡¯s words reached the Glacia Knights, but Percy was more invested in two points. First, the interfaces appearing near the four Elite Demons and the Knight Orders near them increased quickly. Percy didn¡¯t kill any creature over there, but interfaces popped up. The specific timing for that was the biggest problem. Whenever a knight died, some interfaces of the Lesser Demons popped up. Did my Ego claim possession of them even though I never got close to the corpses? Is my Ego¡­evolving? Percy was unsure about that, but his Ego and the abomination he¡¯d revealed earlier were part of the second point attracting his attention. The shadowy figures, most likely traitors of the human race, were looking in their direction. They were looking at him. B2 Chapter 13 - Brink of Death The disguised figures didn¡¯t attack Percy but looked more often in his direction. A black lightning current swirled around one of the figures¡¯ hands, but he didn¡¯t release another lightning bolt. All he and the other disguised figures did was watch the fight. Either this will kill me, or it will explain quite a lot to me. Percy wasn¡¯t sure how stupid his next move was on a scale from one to ten, but it was probably high up there. Still, he used [Consume] to devour all demons considered his property. Dozens of rows of razor-sharp fangs, engulfed in pitch-black darkness, gushed from his hands in excitement. At least, that was what Percy felt from his Ego. It was on ecstasy, pleased about what was going to happen. The abomination burst high up into the air and divided into dozens of streams that spread everywhere. The streams crashed heavily into the demon corpses and devoured them quickly before moving onward to capture the next target. Once there was no interface left in Percy¡¯s range anymore, it felt like something strong pulled Percy in a different direction. He nearly gave in to it, if not for the disguised figures staring at him through their masks. His chest heaved up and down heavily when they looked at him, and he burst into a cold sweat. The abomination retaliated, but it obeyed at the end of the day. It returned inside Percy, and a notification popped up. [46 Lesser Demons have been slain(Archyeas, Minos, Gynlds). 635,532 Prosperity has been added.] Why are they only looking at me? They don¡¯t even release any bloodlust, either. It¡¯s almost like¡­they never intended to join the battle. But why did they kill that vice-captain, then? Maybe he did something that allowed them to attack. But then¡­someone must have given them orders to attack only when ¡®something¡¯ particular happens. That doesn¡¯t make any sense, or does it? Percy was fully aware of how provocative and foolish it had been to use his Ego when the disguised figures looked at him, but that was all they did. They might be interested in his Ego, yet neither acted upon it. That explained enough to Percy to be relieved but also scared. What in the seven hells is their plan?! One of the shadowy figures ¨C the traitor controlling the black lightning ¨C turned around when one of the Doomfeeders roared at the top of its lungs. Its pillar-like arms were drenched in blood and squashed intestines, probably a result of the pillar crashing down upon the enemies and squashing them to death, but it was also not unscathed. The Doomfeeders were slower than the Pleacis and had difficulty enduring the bombardment of elemental projectiles, arrows, and crossbow bolts. The Artifacts used against the Doomfeeder were also effective, restraining one of the Doomfeeders while weakening its brethren. The shadowy figure released a few more lightning bolts, killing a noble and the knight standing beside him. The lightning bolts couldn¡¯t be blocked easily if you focused on something else. You had to focus on the disguised figure to observe his actions intently to predict the trajectory of the black lightning bolt before it whizzed through the air. The noble and his knight were too focused on the Doomfeeders to notice the lightning bolts early enough. They screamed in defiance once their danger sense perked up, but it was already too late. The lightning bolts pierced their armors with horrifying ease and continued their path, ending the noble and his knight in one go. But the lightning bolts weren¡¯t only headed for the combatants. The disguised figure turned to the incapacitated men and women, electricity currents playfully swirling around his fingers. Others seemed to notice that move and shouted something, but Percy didn¡¯t hear their words anymore. His wildly beating heart filled his ears as he turned to the Wintermoon mansion. No more Demons emerge from the mansion¡­but why do I feel like the battle is not even close to being over? A Minos charged up to Percy and switched into a combat stance, ready to kill the Lesser Demon when a bloody-red war axe swooped past his head. The axe whirled through the air and embedded deep into its target, splitting the Minos¡¯ skull with a loud crack. The Minos collapsed to the ground while its dark blood gushed out of the split-open skull. A moment later, a familiar Ego appeared beside Percy, his body covered by deep gnashes and dark bruises. Erik! ¡°Who are these guys?¡± Erik asked Percy, who could only shrug, ¡°I don¡¯t kno¨C....¡± Percy stopped mid-sentence when he saw something from the corner of his eyes. Someone burst through the thicket of the Moonlight Forest and stumbled inside the wide-open clearing. At first, Percy was certain the Demons hiding in the Moonlight Forest were coming for them, but his worries were replaced by surprise. ¡°Tarlek!¡± He exclaimed before being forced to turn to two Gnylds and another Minos attacking them. The corner of Erik¡¯s lips curled upward, but he hadn¡¯t turned to his brother yet. Instead, Erik focused on killing the Lesser Demons before them first. They died quickly as Erik and Percy unleashed more mana to strike down the Lesser Demons. Also, they had already analyzed the attack patterns of the three kinds of Lesser Demons and devised a simple tactic to kill them. This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. The Minos was a straightforward fighter and could be defeated easily by using its charges against it. The Minos¡¯ momentum could be taken advantage of, poking the Lesser Demon in the chest, only for the Minos to keep charging and push the blade deeper into its heart. Either way, the Lesser Demons before them were taken care of quickly, and the duo turned around to look at the brother and friend. Tarlek had already found them, but he could hardly move. His body was covered in dozens of deep cuts, yet none of them was deadly. What worried Percy was Tarlek¡¯s deadly pale complexion, his blue lips, and his glassy eyes. He couldn¡¯t even put it into simple words other than saying that Tarlek¡¯s eyes looked like the life in them had been sucked dry. Something happened to Tarlek in the Moonlight Forest, pushing him to the brink of death. ¡°How in the seven hells?!¡± Erik blurted out in utter shock, his eyes widening in terror. He rushed to his brother, ignoring the fights around him. Percy was forced to kill two Lesser Demons to protect Erik, but that was not all. He took it upon himself to use [Consume] again. [2 Archyeas, 6 Gnylds, and 4 Minos have been consumed. 164.921 Prosperity has been added.] Maybe using his Ego attracted unwanted attention, but Percy felt bad about Tarlek¡¯s condition. The more Prosperity I have, the more I can help! ¡°Did you have to use it all?¡± Erik asked in terror when he reached his brother. Tarlek¡¯s lips parted, but all that escaped them was a groan. He was forced to nod slowly instead, but even that hurt. His legs quivered, and Erik had to lunge forward and grasp his brother¡¯s arms, or Tarlek would have collapsed to the ground right there. Erik cursed, the worry in his eyes intensifying. In the meantime, Percy had no idea what they were talking about, but he didn¡¯t stay idle. He retrieved a few potions and walked up to the brothers. ¡°Does he need an Intermediate Healing Potion, or will an Accelerated Regeneration Potion be more helpful?¡± Percy asked, ¡°His external injuries don¡¯t look too bad. Did he use too much mana? I only have an Ordinary Mana Potion with me.¡± Erik cursed again and looked wildly at Percy, who returned the gaze with a dead-serious expression and three different types of potions in his left hand. ¡°He needs Lifeforce, but the Healing Potion is too weak,¡± Erik grit his teeth, ¡°It¡¯s not enough¡­¡± Percy clicked his tongue and used [Consume] on his Prosperity, ¡°It sure will be.¡± Potion of Intermediate Healing Perfect Quality Potency: Ordinary ?? [Minor Regeneration?], [Stamina Boost?], [Boost of Life?], [Surge of Life???],... The moment Percy saw [Surge of Life], he reacted. Not knowing how long Tarlek had to live, Percy drained his Prosperity to move as quickly as possible. [500,000 Prosperity has been consumed.] [Potion of Intermediate Healing¡¯s [Surge of Life???] is overflowing with Prosperity. Dormant effect has awoken.] A mana flood surged into the Potion of Intermediate Healing, but that was only the beginning. The red liquid within the glass vial began glowing vividly, attracting Erik¡¯s attention. Only a few people were near the border to the Moonlight Forest at this moment, so no one ¨C other than those following his every action ¨C could see what he was doing. Yes! But is that enough? I¡­don¡¯t know¡­ [75,000 Prosperity has been consumed] [Potion of Intermediate Healing¡¯s potency is overflowing with Prosperity. Potency rank increased: Ordinary ??¡ú Ordinary ???] [150,000 Prosperity has been consumed.] [Potion of Intermediate Healing¡¯s potency is overflowing with Prosperity. Potency rank increased: Ordinary ???¡ú Ordinary ????] [300,000 Prosperity has been consumed.] [Potion of Intermediate Healing¡¯s potency is overflowing with Prosperity. Potency rank increased: Ordinary ????¡ú Ordinary ?????] [Your Tier increased by one rank.] The potion was altered again. Its color was more vibrant, further highlighting the vivid glow within the red, viscous liquid. Erik stared blankly at Percy, who eagerly handed him the Potion of Intermediate Healing. ¡°That¡¯s all I can do. I don¡¯t have enough Prosperity to strengthen the potion any further,¡± Percy said, ¡°I hope it will be enough. No. It has to be enough!¡± Erik grit his teeth and nodded slowly as he accepted the potion. Gratitude glimmered in his eyes before he turned dead-serious again. He removed the cap from the potion and trickled the viscous liquid into his brother¡¯s mouth. Tarlek swallowed the potion with the last bits of strength inside him before his legs caved in. Erik and Percy shuddered and expected the worst, thinking they had been too late, but Tarlek¡¯s breathing regulated after a few seconds, and his complexion improved quickly. ¡°Thank heavens,¡± Percy murmured, his legs wobbly as the tension left his body. Tarlek was going to live! Erik looked at his brother for a while and turned to Percy, his eyes red with tears. ¡°Thank you¡­ We owe you for this one. I- I don¡¯t know what I would have done without this potion¡­¡± Erik stammered, but Percy waved him off. ¡°We are friends. Of course, we help each other!¡± Erik¡¯s lips parted to say something, but they closed again after a second. He nodded slowly. ¡°I will remember what you did today.¡± B2 Chapter 14 - Immoral? Mana surged into Percy, and his strength increased little by little. What¡¯s going on? Oh, right. My Tier increased by one rank! He didn¡¯t have time to focus on this before and only sensed something changing once it was clear that Tarlek would make it. Percy was still unclear about what exactly Tarlek did to end up like that, but Erik¡¯s reaction explained it a bit. Erik has seen his brother in a similar state before. It¡¯s something ¡®regular¡¯, which means the Demons have nothing to do with his state. It¡¯s probably related to his Ego. His Ego must be draining his Lifeforce, or something like that. Percy was aware of how powerful Tarlek¡¯s Ego was, even more so because he survived fighting an Elite Demon and dozens of Lesser Demons. Either he killed everyone, or the Demons escaped because no Demon pursued him. They were either dead or didn¡¯t dare attack Tarlek. That was a little shocking, but Percy didn¡¯t have enough time to waste with thoughts and doubts. There might not be anymore Demons charging out of the Wintermoon mansion, there were still enough enemies in the clearing. Many Lesser Demons had already been killed, but the shadowy figures didn¡¯t stop attacking either. Even worse was that nobody could reach the shadowy figures. Melissa¡¯s icicles were evaded or blocked with mana techniques, and the melee fighters couldn¡¯t get close to them without killing the Demons first. That was what the nobles and their retinues tried to do, but the constant reminder of the black lightning bolts¡¯ lethal danger was certainly not helpful. The Elite Demons had killed a few knights, yet the Doomfeeders were restrained and about to get killed. Deep gashes could be seen all over their bodies. They might be regenerating faster than some Gifted could inflict injuries, but the number of attacks and cuts exceeded the Doomfeeder¡¯s natural regeneration. Still, the Elite Demons died only slowly while putting on a ferocious fight. Percy didn¡¯t know how many knights and nobles had already been killed, but he witnessed the death of some Glacia Knights and Commonbirth Ego. It wasn¡¯t a pleasant sight, yet what worried Percy most was how his Ego reacted. His Ego wanted him to claim possession of the human bodies and consume them all! I am not going to end like that! Maybe I cannot fight against you when I killed those Adventurers, but I am not going to give you the bodies of these innocent men and women!! There is a fine line between devouring the bodies of ruthless murderers and the innocent! Consuming demons and humans might reward him with Prosperity and accelerate his progress to the next rank, but if he surrendered to greed by forsaking his ideals, Percy might as well stop being human. He wouldn¡¯t be better than a monster in human skin. At least, that was how he felt. If he gave up everything for power, Percy wouldn¡¯t have a place among his brethren anymore. It didn¡¯t seem like the Coin of Prosperity liked what he thought, but his Ego stopped trembling in excitement. It calmed down ¨C even if it was just a little ¨C, granting Percy enough mental capacity to think about the next course of action. His eyes still lingered on the corpses, and an idea surfaced in his mind. I cannot tell whether we are winning or losing, but it doesn¡¯t look too great. The corpses don¡¯t need their Artifacts anymore¡­right? Percy¡¯s eyes narrowed to tiny slits. The plan forming in his mind was simple, but he couldn¡¯t tell if it was morally acceptable. Either I leave everything behind and die because I¡¯m too weak, or I take their stuff, devour it, and survive. In the worst-case scenario, I¡¯ll apologize to everyone involved. But¡­will there be a problem in the first place? If I¡¯m stealing the knights¡¯ armor and weapons to rescue others, everything will be alright, but plundering the bodies of some nobles¡¯ dead children¡­ Percy was conflicted, but the screams of terror and desperation helped him come to a decision. I want to survive. I HAVE to!! The battlefield had shifted a little, and everyone had moved to the camps outside the Wintermoon mansion. Percy located a few corpses outside the active battlefield, but he didn¡¯t dare approach them. The masked traitors were too close to the corpses as they moved closer to the active battlefield, following the crowd of demons. That disrupted his initial plan, forcing Percy to change everything once again. His attention drifted to the Wintermoon mansion, and he swallowed hard. No more demons emerged from the mansion and the masked traitors were also moving elsewhere. The mansion was empty, yet the corpses of some instructors and nobles were still there. So were the Infernal Lair Seeds. If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. Percy took the risk and skulked to the Wintermoon mansion, his attention lingering on the masked traitors. The Demons focused on the other Gifted and Egos. They ignored Percy¡¯s presence altogether, leaving only the masked traitors who strode toward the retreating knight retinues. Nice. Keep looking the other way! Percy thought, but his eyes narrowed when he saw something from the corner of his eyes. Melissa retrieved an object from her spatial ring. It was a familiar black staff. The Staff of Leech. Is she going to kill herself?! The Glacia Knight Captain spoke only once of the Staff of Leech. Apparently, it was a rare relic capable of unleashing powerful mana blasts by consuming Mana and Lifeforce simultaneously. Recalling how drained Melissa had been after using the Staff of Leech a few times when they first encountered the Archyeas and the Mutant Pleacis, Percy couldn¡¯t help but swallow. The situation is that bad, huh? That is¡­not good. If Melissa was desperate enough to retrieve the Staff of Leech, especially after the last time she used it, their chances of survival had to be incredibly low. Low enough to risk her life. Percy considered joining the battle without detour but decided against it. Percy would have to exploit his Ego¡¯s powers if he wanted to survive. He stopped skulking around and charged into the tremoring building. The mansion¡¯s insides looked worse than the exterior. Everything was destroyed. The walls had collapsed, the staircases had been smashed into pieces, and the furniture was either broken beyond repair or hurled through the hall. Percy frowned as the persistent smell of blood filled the air, but he moved forward quickly. He didn¡¯t know where to start searching the Infernal Lair Seeds, but dozens of interfaces popping up in three different spots helped him locate what he was looking for. [Archyeas ¨C Mature/Demonic ¨C 12,341 Prosperity] [Archyeas ¨C Mature/Demonic ¨C 13,352 Prosperity] [Minos ¨C Mature/Demonic ¨C 11,924 Prosperity] ¡­ [Pleacis ¨C Mature/Demonic/Elite ¨C 184,435 Prosperity] [Doomfeeder ¨C Mature/Demonic/Elite ¨C 201,593 Prosperity] [Doomfeeder ¨C Mature/Demonic/Elite ¨C211,932 Prosperity] ¡­ Since the interfaces showed him the dead Demons, Percy could presume that the men and women responsible for their deaths were also dead. That was unfortunate, but their deaths helped him claim possession of the demons in his Ego¡¯s range. He rushed down the flight of broken staircases and reached the basement, where he ended up in a large hallway. The hallway opened up to a massive hall covered in countless runic enchantments before him. That was where Percy discovered the first Infernal Lair Seed and more than four Elite Demon corpses. His eyes trailed to the human bodies, which still didn¡¯t show any interfaces, and he pressed his lips together. The hollow eyes ¨C still widened in terror ¨C stared at the Elite Demon corpses. They didn¡¯t move an inch when Percy stepped inside, but the reason was evident. They were dead. Percy inspected the gaping wounds and swallowed hard. A wave of nausea flooded Percy at the pair of gutted corpses, and the men and women whose chests had either been ripped apart or squashed mercilessly. He tried to ignore the emotions awakening within him, but it was hard. The terrifying massacre that had occurred inside the Wintermoon mansion shocked Percy to the core. I need to move forward. Melissa will keep using the Staff of Leech until she faints or worse¡­ and the others are not doing well either. I might not be strong enough to rescue everyone, but I will regret it for life if I don¡¯t help now. Or as long as I manage to survive this. Percy turned away from the human corpses and hurriedly walked up to the Elite Demon corpses. He used [Consume] immediately but ignored the abomination and the notifications popping up in the corner of his vision. He searched the Infernal Lair Seed and found it in no time. The crimson marble, remnants of the terrors they¡¯d unleashed upon the Wintermoone estate, lay on the ground, unmoving and innocent. Percy felt almost like the marble was judging him for thinking of it as the Infernal Lair Seed, which it was. The interface verified that when Percy picked it up. [Seedling of the Infernal ¨C Juvenile/Mutant ¨C 1,553,235 Prosperity] The Coin of Prosperity had been going crazy since he entered the hall, but Percy had ignored it, thinking his Ego wished to consume the nobles, Commonbirth Egos, and Instructors. However, it was only now that Percy wondered if his Ego wasn¡¯t more interested in the Seedling of the Infernal, which was what it called the Infernal Lair Seed. He took a deep breath, used [Consume] again, and rushed through the rooms to consume the other Demon carcasses and the remaining Seelings of the Infernal to transform everything into Prosperity. After all, the tremors from the surface indicated something bad was happening. Something incredibly bad! B2 Chapter 15 - Geared Up The Seedling of the Infernal was much more potent than anything Percy had consumed. Even the Elite Demons didn¡¯t push his Tier¡¯s progress as much as the seedlings. Consuming the three Seedlings and the Demon corpses increased his Prosperity drastically while also pushing his Tier to the next rank. [Your Tier increased by one rank.] [Your Tier increased by one rank.] The gains were tremendous, and Percy nearly fell victim to the addictive sensation of the mana floods. Two mana floods filled his body simultaneously, strengthening his body and dispersing his soreness. Get your act together. You have to move! He cursed himself as he stood there, not moving an inch. Percy looked at his personal interface, assessing his current position and what he could possibly do to elevate his strength to the next level. ¡ºPercy ¡» [Ego ¨C Coin of Prosperity] [Tier] ¨C [Elite-7] ¡ª [Gnoll Warrior (Elite ¨C?) ¨C [Blade Mastery???],[A Hunter¡¯s Smell?], [Basic Strength Boost?]] [Blueflame Hawk (Elite ¨C ?) ¨C [Hawk Eyes ?] ¨C [Frostbite ????]] ¡ºCoin of Prosperity¡» Prosperity: 4,998,415 ?Consume The Prosperity count shocked him, yet Percy knew his Prosperity would hit a low point in the next few minutes. What¡¯s the best way to increase my strength? My Tier is already much higher than it used to be. The Lesser Demons should be easy prey now. Percy closed his eyes briefly while using [Consume] on Prosperity. Various thoughts flashed through his mind, but a plan formed slowly. He was ready within seconds and jumped into action without hesitation. [Blueflame Hawk Card¡¯s Augmentation [Basic Agility Boost??] has been unsealed. 750,000 Prosperity has been consumed.] [Gnoll Warrior Card¡¯s Augmentation [Berserk ????] has been unsealed. 1,000,000 Prosperity has been consumed.] [Blueflame Hawk Card¡¯s Augmentation [Silent Reaper?] has been unsealed. 2,000,000 Prosperity has been consumed.] Percy felt his Tier progress slowly but steadily, yet after two back-to-back rank-ups, he wasn¡¯t thrilled at the sensation. What excited him much more was the lack of pain when he unsealed [Basic Agility Boost]. Percy had been worried his body would be torn apart like it had been the case when [Minor Strength Boost] had been first unsealed or with every upgrade of [Minor Strength Boost]. Fortunately, the mana floods absorbed his pain. That was at least what Percy used as reasoning to explain why he wasn¡¯t in pain despite unlocking three Augmentations, with one permanently enhancing his Agility, considerably at that. Berserk and Silent Reaper seem to be active Augmentations. I can feel the rage and anger of Berserk and the calm and stealthy nature of Silent Reaper. They¡¯re opposites, but they will be useful when I learn how to wield them properly! Percy grinned foolishly. The two Augmentations might have been expensive to upgrade, but his Ego never drained an unnecessarily high number of Prosperity Points. The pair of Augmentations was rare in the masses of Gnoll Warriors and Blueflame Hawks and was thus expensive. They would protect Percy and help him change the tides of the battle against the Demons and traitors. Percy sure hoped so. But he wasn¡¯t done yet. He had yet to consume his remaining Prosperity and unsheathed the Silvron Sword Artifact to Ego-enhance it. The silverish-golden streams swirling around [Mana Slash], [Frostblade], and [Fiery Blade] were bright and indicated that Percy could unlock either of them. However, Percy wasn¡¯t sure if the Silvron Sword Artifact could handle more than two runic enchantments. He didn¡¯t want to break his only weapon, and Ego-engraved the only runic enchantment useful to him. This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. [Frostblade] shouldn¡¯t be much more potent than the [Frostbite] Augmentation applied to the Sword, and [Fiery Blade] destroys the effect of [Frostbite] if I apply it. That leaves [Mana Slash]! [Tempered Silvron Sword¡¯s mana conductivity has been enhanced. 250,000 Prosperity has been deducted.] [Mana Conductivity reached its limit. [Mana Slash] is overflowing with Prosperity. [Mana Slash] will be interwoven into the essence of the Tempered Silvron Sword.] Percy focused on the vibrant mana conjuring alongside the Silvron Sword¡¯s blade and observed how his Ego etched a new runic enchantment into it. However, that was not all he did. [Tempered Silvron Sword¡¯s mana veins have been enhanced. 5,000 Prosperity has been deducted.] [Tempered Silvron Sword¡¯s durability has been enhanced. 5,000 Prosperity has been deducted.] [Tempered Silvron Sword¡¯s mana veins have been purged. 20,000 Prosperity has been deducted.] A dark, mushy liquid poured out of the Tempered Silvron Sword when he Ego-enhanced it one last time. It smelled and looked like the dark masses Percy¡¯s body once released, but he didn¡¯t pay much attention to it. He activated [Frostbite] to freeze the smelly mass, which fell to the ground with a thud once frozen. [Mana Slash] was engraved on the Silvron Sword¡¯s blade, and Percy was ready to act. I have enough Prosperity left to create another healing potion ¨C hopefully, I won¡¯t need it, but you never know ¨C and I will acquire more Prosperity soon. He nodded slowly, checked his stuff, and turned back to leave the Wintermoon mansion. Percy was several times stronger than he used to be when he entered the Wintermoon mansion, and only a few minutes passed since then. The corner of his lips curled into a devious grin as he emerged in the clearing where the battle between humans and demons had continued. Percy joined the battle again, but what he saw surprised him. The massive Doomfeeders were now dead, their bodies riddled with gaping holes in their chests, arms, and heads. The holes screamed ¡®Staff of Leech¡¯ to Percy, whose attention drifted to Melissa. Lady Reeze was drenched in sweat. Her smooth hair was wet and stuck to her face. She breathed heavily and was clearly having a hard time remaining on her feet. Melissa¡¯s legs trembled violently even after she emptied the viscous content of two glass vials, yet Percy paid more attention to the missing Staff of Leech. The staff was not in her hands anymore. Instead, Percy found it in the hands of another noble. To be precise, there were half a dozen nobles in-between Melissa and the young heir holding the Staff of Leech at this moment. The nobles were drenched in sweat and in a weakened state, just like Melissa. Did they hand over the Staff of Leech to someone else to use more often? Was it for everyone to use? That was very interesting, but it also meant more than half a dozen nobles were out of combat. Still, looking at the scene unfolding before him, Percy quickly realized how much the tides of the battle against the demons had changed in their favor. The Pleacis were still alive, but most Lesser Demons had been killed. Even the masked traitors were retreated, even if only slightly. The Staff of Leech outdid itself. But to think that the masked traitors are afraid of the Staff of Leech. Am I the only one thinking that¡¯s weird? Just as the thought emerged in his mind, something unexpected happened. The Pleacis turned away from the nobles¡¯ retinues and stared at the masked traitors. They suddenly gained momentum and shot toward the traitors¡­and their bladed arms pierced through the chests of two of them. The only one left unscathed was the masked traitor wielding the black lightning. But he didn¡¯t seem scared. On the contrary, the man glanced at his dying allies and turned to the nobles, only to shrug nonchalantly. A raspy voice filled the air, ¡°How unfortunate.¡± Not even a full second later, black lightning currents swept in all directions, coating the masked traitor for a moment. The moment after the black lightning disappeared felt like an eternity. The masked traitor was no more. He disappeared into thin air, leaving his dying colleagues behind. Did I jinx that? Well, I¡¯m not really sorry about that. Good thing these traitors are dead. But¡­wait a moment. They never attacked anyone in the first place, did they? The only one killing others was the lightning guy. Something felt wrong, but Percy couldn¡¯t grasp it just yet. He only realized what was going on when the Pleacis tore the masked traitors apart, revealing their purple flesh and the dark veins covering their bodies. The Pleacis devoured the dying traitors, which resulted in drastic changes. Their muscles bulged, and their bodies expanded. The Pleacis roared as if on ecstasy and in pain at the same time. Percy didn¡¯t have to be highly perceptive to perceive the strength of the Pleacis skyrocket. Dark veins like the ones the traitors had spread all across their bodies, and a violet hue gushed from their eyes. The two Elite Demons roared at the top of their lungs, savored the traitors until the last bite, and turned around to face the nobles and their retinues. A moment later, the Doom of Power disappeared, and the walls of the Wintermoon mansion caved in. The mansion collapsed, but the cacophony of sounds didn¡¯t silence the eerie sounds coming from the Moonlight Forest. The Demons hiding in the Moonlight Forest were coming for them. Oh shit. I take it back. No jinxing anymore. How about we reset the fight? Please¡­ B2 Chapter 16 - A Devils Power ¡°Knights, get into Pegasus formation!¡± Melissa roared at the top of her lungs when the trees and shrubs connected to the clearing tremored wildly. She grit her teeth, ignored the weakness overcoming her, and manifested two Monster Cards before her. A Glacia Lizard ¨C Percy had already encountered this one ¨C and an ocean-blue horse with a crystalized mane emerged beside her. She jumped on the horse¡¯s back while the Glacia Lizard moved beside it. Following Melissa¡¯s quick response, the Glacia Knights summoned their mounts while Melissa retrieved several lances made from Silvron. The Glacia Knights walked up next to Melissa, grasped one of the lances, and went into position. It didn¡¯t take long before Ulfhar appeared on his Steppe. The horse neighed in anger, which represented the Glacia Knight Captain¡¯s mood very well. ¡°I apologize, Lady Re¨C...¡± Ulfhar started, but Melissa raised her hand to stop him. ¡°There is no time for apologies. Neither is there a need to apologize for what happened. This is not your fault!¡± Her eyes drifted to the other Orders, the Imperial Instructors, and other powerhouses. Unfortunately, most of the stronger Gifted Ones had been killed by the masked traitor¡¯s lightning bolts. The damage had already been inflicted, and there was nothing they could do about it, but it hurt knowing so many good people had died. She cursed softly but nodded slowly when the Cardists among the Knights, Commonbirth Egos, and nobles summoned their monsters. They were in dire need of as much power as possible. A massive Crimson Wolf appeared near the Glacia Lizard. Its fangs and teeth were coated in blood, just like the man riding the beast. Erik was riding the Crimson Wolf, Tarlek stayed behind, his massive broadsword replaced by a large arrow. A wisp of energy swirled around Tarlek, and joyous squeaks filled the air. Not many paid attention to Tarlek at this moment, but those who did could easily tell that the wisp of energy was an Elemental Sprite and that a golden mouse peeked out of his pockets. An arrow conjured from compressed mana appeared in Tarlek¡¯s hands. He nocked it smoothly and pulled the bowstring back while patiently waiting for the monsters in the Moonlight Forest to charge out. ¡°What happened to the Pleacis?¡± Someone asked, his voice filled with fear and uncertainty. Nobody answered for a few seconds. Instead, they stared at the pair of Pleacis whose bodies were either revolting against the changes happening or accepting them readily to improve and evolve, the same uncertainty glimmering in their eyes. It took a while before anyone could answer, ¡°We cannot be sure, but some old scripts say something about Demonic Gifted, who are granted power from the Devil. They sell their soul for power. By devouring the Demonic Gifted, the Pleacis must have gained some of the Devil¡¯s power. That¡¯s my guess, at least.¡± The woman voicing out her opinion was already in her late 50s. She was one of the Imperial Instructors who had been brought to the Imperial training to teach the commonbirth Egos about their responsibilities and the history of the Kainesh Kingdom. ¡°That¡¯s bad,¡± One of the Knight Captains who had survived until now. He glanced at the Imperial Instructors, the remaining Knight Captains, and Vice Captains. No words were needed to express their opinion. They didn¡¯t like what awaited them, but it had to be done. They emerged from their formations and charged toward the evolving Pleacis. A mana blast swept past one of the Knight Captains and struck one of the Pleacis square in the chest. The Pleacis roared in pain, but he didn¡¯t end up like the other Demons. One mana blast was enough to push the Pleacis¡¯ chest inward and leave behind a dent, but there wasn¡¯t a massive hole in its chest. The Elite Demon¡¯s chest was burned, yet the damage was far from eliminating the evil creature. Percy looked at the scene in horror but summoned the Blueflame Hawk nonetheless. The Blueflame Hawk emerged silently like a ghost next to Percy and shot high up without uttering a sound. Silent Reaper was a passive and active Augmentation, which enhanced the User¡¯s stealthiness passively and allowed the User to use the Augmentation by channeling mana into it to further augment the stealthiness. Once activated, the Blueflame Hawk disappeared from everyone¡¯s perception. One would have to focus on the Blueflame Hawk or know such a creature was above them and actively search for it to have a chance at finding it. Percy didn¡¯t need to search the Blueflame Hawk like that. He instinctively knew where his summoned Monster was located. This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it. Should I summon the Gnoll, too? Probably not. Hyean is not strong enough to fight multiple Lesser Demons simultaneously. The Gnoll Warrior thought differently. It didn¡¯t disobey Percy¡¯s command, but he sensed his Monster Card¡¯s desire to fight. Percy groaned and summoned the Gnoll Warrior, who growled at him while approaching a Knight¡¯s corpse. He picked up the Knight¡¯s Sword Artifact, swung it around a little, and turned to the forest. Hyean activated [Hunter¡¯s Smell], and Percy followed suit. The surrounding scenery changed drastically as a myriad of overlapping scents filled their nostrils. Percy groaned at the disgusting scents coming from the demons, but he turned to the forest like the Gnoll Warrior. His eyes widened. How many are there?!? There have to be hundreds¡­ ¡°The forest is full of them!! We have to kill those Pleacis before they can pincer us!¡± Percy roared, which earned him a glance from the Pleacis and some nobles. Fortunately, the Pleacis¡¯ attention was quickly pulled away by the Knight Captains and other powerful Gifted. They attacked the Pleacis fiercely before their bodies could adapt to the new powers they gained. ¡°You won¡¯t give us any orders!¡± One of the younger nobles shouted in disdain, which resulted in a cacophony of groans and heavy sighs among the nobles¡¯ retinues, the commonbirth Egos and Percy. ¡°How much time do we have left?¡± Another noble asked instead. He had seen Percy¡¯s Blueflame Hawk before. That was enough for the noble, who couldn¡¯t be bothered about the difference in their status in the current situation. Their survival was more important than their status. Once dead, they were all but rotting flesh and bones. ¡°Seconds,¡± Percy shouted back, ¡°There are hundreds.¡± Everyone jumped into action, but instead of focusing on the Pleacis with all their might, the forces turned to the Moonlight Forest. The Orders changed their formations a few times while the Staff of Leech was forward to the next noble. A commonbirth Ego also grasped the Staff of Leech, but one of the nobles was forced to take over after the commonbirth Ego released a single mana blast. The commonbirth Ego collapsed to the ground, unable to get up again. Oh shit. How can he collapse that easily? Did he release a few mana blasts earlier? Percy didn¡¯t know but shrugged. He glanced at the Gnoll Warrior momentarily and watched Hyean pick up a second Sword Artifact. The Sword Artifact switched possession to Percy, who cursed softly before he activated [Consume] on Prosperity. If you¡¯re already fighting, I might as well support you properly! [Tiagro Sword¡¯s mana conductivity has been enhanced. 200,000 Prosperity has been deducted.] [Mana Conductivity reached its limit. [Mana Slash] is overflowing with Prosperity. [Mana Slash] will be interwoven into the essence of the Tiagro Sword.] [Yvelton Sword¡¯s mana resistance has been enhanced. 186,000 Prosperity has been deducted.] [Mana Conductivity reached its limit. [Double Impact] is overflowing with Prosperity. [Double Impact] will be interwoven into the essence of the Yvelton Sword.] The runic enchantments engraved into the two Sword Artifacts, but Percy didn¡¯t watch them. He glanced into the sky, where Percy found the Blueflame Hawk. A mental command was all it took to ensure the Gnoll Warrior wouldn¡¯t jump blindly into battle and that the Blueflame Hawk would support Hyean. Simultaneously, Percy activated [Silent Reaper] to mend into the surroundings. He vanished from one moment to the next. A moment later, hell broke loose. Hundreds of Lesser Demons, accompanied by dozens of Elite Demons, charged out of the Moonlight Forest. Almost everyone cursed at the wave of demons surging toward them, but they were ready to face the evil creatures head-on. The noblewoman holding the Staff of Leech turned to one of the ordinary Pleacis, which had emerged from the forest, and shot. She quickly released two mana bursts, blasting two massive holes into the Elite Demon before it collapsed to the ground. It died before reaching the human defenses, fueling the noblewoman with motivation. She released two more mana bursts, killing a pair of Minos before her legs caved in. Just like everyone had done before her, the young noblewoman forwarded the Staff of Leech to the next noble. At least, she thought she was giving it to another noble when a rough hand helped her up from the ground while reaching out for the Staff of Leech. ¡°Percy, don¡¯t!¡± Lady Reeze¡¯s shout rang through the defensive lines as Percy emerged from [Silent Reaper]¡¯s camouflage. He held the Staff of Leech in his hands. His azure eyes glimmered vibrantly even as his mana and lifeforce filled the relic. This is going to be painful. He thought, but the corner of his lips curled upward. But not for me. B2 Chapter 17 - The Power of the Soul The tides of the battle threatened to change again. The Doom of Power might be no more, but the wave of Demons was terrifying to face. A young noble, covered in dark blood, had just killed half a dozen Lesser Demons with a whirlwind of attacks when a Pleacis appeared beside him. The Elite Demon¡¯s bladed arms lunged at the noble, threatening to behead him when a mana blast whizzed past the human¡¯s head. The mana blast propelled through the air with horrifying velocity and impacted heavily. The Pleacis was struck in the chest and hurled through the air. ¡°Oh shit,¡± The young noble sighed in relief, his eyes locked onto the Pleacis. The Elite Demon landed hard on the trampled grass and drenched it in dark blood. It writhed a few times before it stopped moving once and for all. ¡°Good shot!¡± The noble exclaimed, turning to the shooter, only to frown deeply, ¡°That was you''re doing?¡± Percy glanced calmly at the young noble and remembered him faintly. ¡°You¡¯re the nagging child. I remember you.¡± Percy nodded, glancing at the dead Elite Demon for a second, ¡°And I did kill the Pleacis, yes.¡± He clutched the Staff of Leech tightly and turned away. After taking a deep breath to calm his nerves, Percy was ready again. Killing one of them won¡¯t be enough. We need more powerhouses to help deal with those mutating Pleacis! If Percy hadn¡¯t seen the insignificant damage the mana bursts inflicted on the mutating Pleacis, he would have attacked them instead. They were the bigger threat and had to be killed immediately. But the Staff of Leech wasn¡¯t strong enough. His mana and lifeforce were drained as thoughts flashed through his mind, and Percy jumped into action once the Staff of Leech was charged again. A bead of sweat trickled down his temples after he released the second mana burst, which struck one of the Doomfeeders square in the face. The Elite Demon¡¯s skull burst into countless pieces, killing the evil creature. As the Doomfeeder dropped dead to the ground, Percy had to gasp for air. The Staff of Leech drained more mana and lifeforce, but there was more to it after the second mana burst. More was sucked out of him. Whatever! They need to die!! Percy released a third and fourth mana burst, killing two more Elite Demons before they reached the defense lines. His sight was hazy, but [Hawk Eyes] helped him retain some vision. It was better than nothing. Still, Percy coughed up blood, and his legs threatened to cave in. Not much of his mana and lifeforce was left, which the Staff of Leech must have noticed because it drained less mana and lifeforce and focused on something else instead. When the fifth mana burst propelled through the air, bursting another Doomfeeder skull apart, confused murmurs rang through the surroundings. The young noble Percy had rescued alongside a handful of commonbirth Egos and Knights had seen how many mana bursts Percy had released in quick succession without collapsing to the ground. He was barely standing on his two feet, but he stood. Most commonbirth Egos couldn¡¯t go on after the first mana burst, while some nobles could release two, maybe three mana bursts through the Staff of Leech. Seeing Percy release five mana bursts was surprising, but the size of his mana bursts was the most surprising. Not even Melissa¡¯s mana bursts glowed as bright as Percy¡¯s. They weren¡¯t as large and powerful either. ¡°Stop shooting, Percy!¡± A shout reverberated through the clearing, forcing Percy to look up. He turned to the voice¡¯s source and found Melissa staring at him with a mixture of surprise and worry. What¡¯s wrong with her? Is she actually worried about me? That¡¯s¡­new. Percy shrugged and winked in Melissa¡¯s direction in response. A moment later, he was already occupied with dozens of Lesser Demons and a pair of Elite Demons coming his way. ¡°I hate you!¡± The young noble from before shouted before moving in front of Percy, ¡°Can you handle another shoot or two?¡± The noble¡¯s voice sounded as worried as Melissa¡¯s at the end of the sentence. That confused Percy, but he nodded. The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. ¡°That shouldn¡¯t be a problem. I might collapse after that, but the death of seven Elite Demons and whatever my summoned Monsters are doing should be enough to have some impact on the battle.¡± Percy was already drenched in sweat, his body was drained and weakened, but he was perfectly fine emotionally. Of course, his condition wasn¡¯t great, but he had another Intermediate Healing Potion, which he could Ego-enhance, and by consuming the Demon''s carcasses and using more Prosperity, Percy could rank up and refill his mana. He would be fine! More nobles, mercenaries, and knights came to support Percy after seeing what he could do with the Staff of Leech. They protected him and gave Percy enough time to prepare for the next attacks. ¡°I need everyone to surrender your property rights of the Demon corpses,¡± Percy said when his mana was sucked dry. His Lifeforce wasn¡¯t faring well either, but the other source drained to empower the Staff of Leech was more troublesome. Percy felt worse as more of the unknown force was drained. ¡°I sure hope you have enough Essence to spare before the Staff incinerates your soul,¡± The noble cursed, taking Percy by surprise as someone next to the noble added. ¡°Ordinary Egos would be dead already. I think he knows what he does.¡± Actually¡­I don¡¯t think I know anything. Is my soul being sucked dry by the Staff of Leech?! Percy was scared, but only for a moment. Even if it was a little uncomfortable to have his soul sucked dry, Percy didn¡¯t think it was all that painful. If not for his mana and lifeforce being drained at the same time, Percy wouldn¡¯t feel much different, and it would be no problem to release a dozen or so mana bursts. That was how Percy felt. Whatever! It is looting time! More than a hundred interfaces popped up as everyone around Percy surrendered their right to the Demon carcasses¡¯ possession. Percy claimed possession instinctively and unleashed the abomination stored within [Consume]. The abomination burst out of his hands and shot high into the air, where it split up. The abomination shot into all directions and consumed the corpses of all dead demons while Percy added another task to his Ego. He used [Consume] on Prosperity and jumped into action, one of his hands reaching for the second and last Intermediate Healing Potion. [500,000 Prosperity has been consumed.] [Potion of Intermediate Healing¡¯s [Surge of Life???] is overflowing with Prosperity. Dormant effect has awoken.] [152x Lesser Demons have been consumed. 1.963,036 Prosperity has been added.] [11x Elite Demons have been consumed. 2,019,911 Prosperity has been added.] [75,000 Prosperity has been consumed] [Potion of Intermediate Healing¡¯s potency is overflowing with Prosperity. Potency rank increased: Ordinary ??¡ú Ordinary ???] [150,000 Prosperity has been consumed.] [Potion of Intermediate Healing¡¯s potency is overflowing with Prosperity. Potency rank increased: Ordinary ???¡ú Ordinary ????] [300,000 Prosperity has been consumed.] [Potion of Intermediate Healing¡¯s potency is overflowing with Prosperity. Potency rank increased: Ordinary ????¡ú Ordinary ?????] [1.200,000 Prosperity has been consumed.] [Potion of Intermediate Healing¡¯s potency is overflowing with Prosperity. Potency rank increased: Ordinary ????¡ú Rare ?] [2.500,000 Prosperity has been consumed.] [Your Tier increased by one rank.] The mana flood came at the perfect moment. The mutant Pleacis barged through the defenses of the Knight Captains by impaling one of the Imperial Instructors while one of the Knight Captains was cleaved in two parts. The Blueflame Hawk warned Percy of the impending danger as the Pleacis charged in their direction. He swung around while removing the cap of the Intermediate Healing Potion, drained the content, and responded instinctively. A pair of mana bursts, much larger than the previous attacks, shot out of the tip of the Staff of Leech with shocking velocity. They reached the mutating Pleacis instantly and struck them in the center of the chest. However, instead of leaving behind a small dent and mere burn marks, the mana bursts penetrated the mutating Elite Demon¡¯s thick hide before proceeding to pierce the evil creature¡¯s pungent flesh and dark bones. The Pleacis halted and looked down at their chests, the shock in their black eyes visible. They looked up simultaneously and stared straight into Percy¡¯s azure blue eyes before collapsing to the ground. At that moment, the battle in the clearing came to a sudden stillstand. Not a single cough or screech resounded as all attention pulled toward Percy, who was still standing strong. How was that possible? Percy shouldn¡¯t have survived this. No. The Staff of Leech should have incinerated his soul after the first batch of mana bursts already. Yet, the same young man was still standing after releasing two massive mana bursts that would have killed the younger nobles instantly. ¡°Who, in the seven hells, is he?!¡± B2 Chapter 18 - Interlude: Noble Reports about the incident in the Wintermoon estate reached the palace the same day. The survivors of the terrifying event used communication crystals to tell their families about what happened and to warn their lords and masters about the situation. The substantial casualties resulted in an emergency meeting with all authorities staying in the capital. ¡°It has been centuries since the Devils moved. Why did they start granting Demonic Gifts again?¡± One of the Old King¡¯s advisors asked the group of authorities. He was an old man who knew nobody would say anything for the next few minutes if he didn¡¯t start. The authorities were too shocked about the deaths of their heirs and the damage the incident had inflicted to the kingdom. ¡°I am more surprised that Demons managed to travel through the Moonlight Forest even though the Demon Ward was active. The Imperial Instructors were told to check and replenish the Demon Ward ¨C if necessary ¨C like every cycle. It doesn¡¯t make sense for several Infernal Lairs to pass through the Demon Ward. The whole incident doesn¡¯t make any sense!¡± The Old King growled while his son, the king, nodded slowly. ¡°My daughter¡¯s report is very thorough, but she cannot tell me exactly what happened. They were warned about the demons in the Moonlight Forest mere minutes before the Demonic Gifted and Infernal Lairs appeared. To be precise, it didn¡¯t even take minutes,¡± A middle-aged man seated near the King announced. The man had vibrant amber-colored eyes and dark hair that shimmered blue in the sunrays falling through the windows. They looked just like his daughter¡¯s hair in the sunlight. He was the Reeze Duke, Melissa Reeze¡¯s father. ¡°I don¡¯t care when the Demons attacked or how they attacked. I want them dead!!!¡± One of the younger men shouted, jumping up from his chair. His fist smashed into the wooden table before him, cracking it at once. ¡°Calm down, Leodias,¡± The man next to Leodias growled. Leodias spun around, his eyes overflowing with wrath, but not a single word escaped his lips when he saw his friend¡¯s steely gaze. ¡°I just lost my daughters to these bastards a decade ago, and today I lost my son. I know how you feel, but these vile cretins are dead. We need to find out who the last Demonic Gifted was and who ordered them,¡± The man said in an eerily calm tone. Leodias swallowed hard and sat down without another outburst. ¡°They had to get past the Demon Wards,¡± The steely man said, ¡°That¡¯s not possible, except¡­¡± He left the last words unsaid, but everyone knew what he indicated. ¡°Someone deactivated the Demon Wards,¡± the King completed the sentence, ¡°Someone betrayed us.¡± Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. The following silence hung heavy in the air. The accusation was extreme, but the evidence spoke for itself. Demons couldn¡¯t enter the Moonlight Forest without an alarm notifying the palace and Wintermoon estate. Even if the Demon Ward malfunctioned, the Imperial Instructors would have noticed something off. However, the reports stated no damages or any other issues. ¡°Deploy the Demon Hunters. Maybe they can make sense of the situation in the Moonlight Forest,¡± The King ordered, ¡°As for the traitors¡­I will start investigating right away.¡± The King turned to the Reeze Duke and smiled, but the sadness of today¡¯s incident was still apparent in his eyes, ¡°Your daughter did a great job. You raised her well.¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing. You shouldn¡¯t praise her too much, your majesty. Melissa still has a lot to learn,¡± The Reeze Duke said, hinting at a bow. ¡°But to think you would give her one of your Essence Relics. It saved everyone¡¯s lives, but I did not expect her to give her such a dangerous object,¡± The King studied the Reeze Duke for a reaction, but the duke''s reaction was lackluster, to say the least. The Reeze Duke smiled, a hint of sadness flickering through his eyes. ¡°Melissa is my only child. I gave her everything I could spare to ensure her safety. I¡¯m glad I did,¡± The Reeze Duke sighed deeply as the last words fell, ¡°But if not for the anomaly she picked up, Melissa would be dead already.¡± The men and women seated around the table listened up, some nodding slowly. ¡°I heard about it. Your daughter picked up a young man, an Ego, from a small village bordering the Meiso Plains. Is it true he used the Staff of Leech seven times in a row?¡± A middle-aged woman with a long scar across her face asked. The King looked at the Reeze Duke alongside the others. ¡°If Melissa¡¯s report can be trusted, Percy ¨C that is the name of the young Ego ¨C conjured five ordinary energy bullets and released two compressed energy bullets. The latter was strong enough to kill the mutating Pleacis, who¡¯ve been absorbing the Devil¡¯s power of the Demonic Gifted. Reports say the mutating Pleacis were stronger than Evolved Monster.¡± Many nobles nodded, but another woman spoke up to support the Reeze Duke. ¡°My son¡¯s report can vouch for Melissa¡¯s words. I think all reports will state the same or roughly the same. That child, Percy, used the Staff of Leech several times, whereas my child¡¯s Essence was drained after the third energy bullet. This child has been trained to use Essence since birth, or¡­¡± ¡°Or he is an unknown bastard,¡± The King completed what everyone else thought. The former was very unlikely because commonbirth Ego would have to be trained for decades to acquire the Essence needed to activate the Staff of Leech seven times in a row. However, the average Ego manifested in the teens. According to the reports, Percy was around Melissa¡¯s age and oblivious to the world. ¡°Looks like someone gave birth to a powerful bastard. Congratulations to whoever¡¯s spawn this is.¡± Everyone glanced at Levian Darkai, the baron of the Moonlight Forest, but he shrugged nonchalantly. ¡°I have a few bastards, but I know all of them,¡± He said lightly, ¡°Furthermore, I never possessed much Essence. That child is either an anomaly, or we found the affair child of a high noble amid the chaos of the Bloodmoon incident.¡± The baron chuckled, but nobody joined his happiness. ¡°Bloodmoon incident¡­really?¡± The King growled quietly, but Levian Darkai shrugged again before he bowed deeply toward the king. ¡°Call it as you please, your majesty.¡± The King cursed quietly but turned away. ¡°That kid saved the lives of many. Let¡¯s find out whose child he is.¡± B2 Chapter 19 - Rumors The atmosphere in the Wintermoon estate was tense and gloomy. Too many good people died. Comrades, friends, and family fell victim to the Demons. They were torn apart in front of their friends¡¯ eyes, unable to escape the Demons¡¯ clutches. Fewer good people would have died if the Imperial prospects had been prepared for the demon attack, armed to their death and mentally ready to engage in a fierce battle against Elite Demons. Unfortunately, the reality looked bleak. The attack was unexpected and bloody. Still, gossip never ceased to spread, not even in times like this. ¡°His name was Percy, right? I can¡¯t believe Lady Reeze and her knight picked him up in a random village. Don¡¯t you think they¡¯re hiding something?¡± Someone had asked. ¡°He doesn¡¯t look like Melissa, but what if they¡¯re siblings? It should be impossible for a commonbirth Ego to use the Staff of Leech this often!¡± Another one added fuel to the fire. ¡°So, you think Percy is a bastard of the Reeze Duke? That doesn¡¯t make any sense. The Duke wouldn¡¯t have hidden Percy¡¯s identity this long, only to allow him to travel with the Glacia Knights and Lady Reeze. They would have sent him to the Imperial training as a squire of the Glacia Knights or something similar if they had wanted to hide him.¡± More and more rumors surfaced, but Percy couldn¡¯t be bothered. He was exhausted and slept for two days straight after the last demons were killed. When he woke up, their corpses had already been removed. Tarlek and Erik slept in the same tent. They woke up when Percy stirred and looked at their friend intensely. ¡°Did you lie to us?¡± Erik asked with a tinge of sadness. ¡°What are you talking about? I don¡¯t think I lied to you guys,¡± Percy rubbed the weariness out of his eyes and frowned at his friend. Tarlek sighed and got up from the mattress. Percy followed suit to stretch his stiff body, only to find himself in a tight embrace. Tarlek smiled at him. ¡°First of all, I¡¯m grateful you are alive and well. I don¡¯t know what I would have done if you had sustained any heavy injuries after using your Ego to save me with that potion.¡± I think you¡¯re misunderstanding something. Ego-enhancing your potion wouldn¡¯t have changed anything. There is no need to be worried or feel guilty. Percy waved his hand dismissively, but Tarlek wasn¡¯t done. ¡°I owe you a big one for saving me, and I do not care if you don¡¯t want anything in return. Don¡¯t hesitate and ask me for help if you ever need a pair of helping hands,¡± Tarlek declared dead-seriously. Erik was still quietly grumbling, clearly not satisfied with the answer he¡¯d received, but he added, ¡°Make that two pairs of helping hands. Percy could have rejected them, yet he was glad the brothers offered him their help. He may not need their help right now, but that could change quickly. The future was unknown, and having powerful allies was of great help. Still, Erik¡¯s intense stares bothered him. ¡°So¡­what is this about lying? What¡¯s the issue?¡± Percy looked at the brothers. ¡°You have been asleep for two days and might not know about the things happening in the Wintermoon estate. It is¡­crazy, for the lack of a better word. Rumors about you and your relation to the Reeze household are circulating, but that is not all. There is more to it!¡± Tarlek sighed deeply, ¡°Everyone says you are a bastard from a powerful noble family or that some of the kingdom¡¯s greatest powerhouses have been hiding your existence. Nobody believed us when we said you were a young, recently awakened Ego from a small village called Raewood.¡± If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. ¡°A noble? Me?¡± Percy¡¯s frown deepened, ¡°How does that make sense?¡± Erik couldn¡¯t take it anymore. ¡°Do you even know how difficult it is to generate and accumulate essence if you weren¡¯t born with it? Every Ego naturally produces some Essence, but the Staff of Leech consumes a massive amount of it to create those powerful bursts of mana. Even Gifted born with powerful Egos do not have much Essence to train with. They can release one or two mana bursts through the Staff of Leech before they collapse. Some can maybe release three if they put their lives on the line.¡± Tarlek grasped his brother¡¯s shoulder and stopped him from shouting at Percy. He motioned his brother to calm down and step back a little. ¡°What Erik is trying to say is that even nobles, who are born with traces of their parents¡¯ Essence, have a hard time accumulating large quantities of Essence. That is also why the Staff of Leech is both so powerful and dangerous. It allows weak Gifted to utilize their Essence, which is why it is so powerful. However, if you use up too much Essence, which happens easily through the Staff of Leech, you end up injuring yourself easily. Training your body and Ego helps you accumulate more Essence over time, but most nobles have only accumulated enough Essence to use it freely when they reach their mid-20s. That is roughly when they can use the Staff of Leech five or more times. At least, that is what that idiot Felix heard from Lady Reeze.¡± Percy stared at Tarlek for a while, his mind rattling wildly. Wait a moment. That unknown source of energy drained by the Staff of Leech is what everyone is calling ¡®Essence¡¯, right? Every Ego has one, and nobles are born with them. They accumulate it with training and constant use of their Ego¡­and I seem to have enough Essence to use the Staff of Leech seven times in quick succession ¨C twice with more Essence than the norm ¨C which is something only much older nobles are supposed to be capable of¡­ ¡°Does that mean my Ego is that much stronger than the norm?¡± Percy mused. In his mind, that made the most sense. Percy couldn¡¯t think of himself as a noble. He may not know his parents but he didn¡¯t believe they were nobles. The old man, Greg, would have told him. Right? But instead of telling him about his parents, Greg only told about how much of a hassle nobles were. Percy could agree with that statement. Nobles were a hassle. ¡°I don¡¯t think your Ego can generate that much Essence. Most nobles are born with a trace of Essence ¨C the stronger their parents, the more Essence the children are born with, which is also one of the reasons the nobility is more likely to give birth to powerful Egos ¨C and train with their inborn Essence for decades. If you didn¡¯t manifest your Ego at birth, which you said you didn¡¯t, you¡­must have been born with Essence. That is the only logical explanation I have.¡± ¡°But that doesn¡¯t mean I¡¯m a noble or a bastard,¡± Percy responded, trying to gather his thoughts. ¡°No,¡± Tarlek reaffirmed, ¡°You could be the child of two powerful Egos. But¡­I cannot tell you how strong they would have to be for you to contain enough Essence to activate the Staff of Leech seven times in a row without dying.¡± Erik¡¯s expression changed slowly, surprise replacing whatever sadness and agitation was left. ¡°So¡­Percy is a noble? That is surprising.¡± Percy glared at Erik but decided against saying anything. He was already tired of this. ** Melissa was tired of the questions. Her noble friends and acquaintances who didn¡¯t even like her approached Melissa to bother her with questions she couldn¡¯t answer either. ¡°Lady Reeze, let us be honest with each other,¡± Felix pleaded with Melissa, ¡°If that kid were a bastard, he would already be dead. That leaves us with only a few options.¡± Felix looked at Melissa, who returned the gaze with a neutral demeanor. ¡°Either, Percy is a secret child of a powerful family. Please do not glare at me like that, Lady Reeze. I am not saying Percy is your brother or anything. I¡¯m just laying out the possibilities. Second, Percy could be the child of the strongest Egos in the kingdom. But that is also not feasible since the strongest Egos in the kingdom are also nobles. Percy would, therefore, be a noble as well. Or third, he is the child of a ruined house.¡± The way Felix spoke indicated to Melissa what the young nobleman thought. ¡°You think he belongs to a ruined household?¡± Felix¡¯s lips curled up into a creepy grin. Melissa shuddered but listened intently. ¡°The timeline fits with the destruction of one household.¡± Melissa¡¯s expression turned gloomy. ¡°You think¡­¡± ¡°How am I supposed to know for sure?¡± Felix responded, his grin growing wider. ¡°He could be¡­ But maybe he isn¡¯t¡± B2 Chapter 20 - Next Move Percy approached the camp of the Glacia Knight Order and greeted some knights. They responded in a friendly tone, but their eyes and body language were nothing like they used to be. The Glacia Knights were vigilant and uncertain about how to treat him. I expected some changes but for the Glacia Knights to treat me differently¡­ It looks like there is no reason to keep hoping that nothing will change. That carriage departed. A heavy sigh escaped his lips, but he moved onward until he reached the tent in the center of the camp. The Glacia Knight Captain, Knight Liam, and a few more Glacia Knights held a meeting, but their voices died down when Percy entered. The Glacia Knights retreated and pressed their right hand against their chest, only to lower their arms again. Confusion flickered in their eyes. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for interrupting the meeting.¡± Ulfhar waved dismissively, ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it, Percy. I¡¯m glad you¡¯re awake and doing fine. What¡¯s bothering you?¡± The Glacia Knight Captain didn¡¯t sound much different, but Percy could feel Ulfhar¡¯s eyes lingering on him for too long, intently studying Percy¡¯s every move. ¡°I just wanted to know what will happen now.¡± ¡°Are you talking about the Imperial Training, or are you trying to mention¨C...¡± Ulfhar didn¡¯t get any further. ¡°Yes. I am talking about the Imperial Training,¡± Percy responded curtly, his voice loud and clear. The Glacia Knights in the tent were about to say something, but the old knight, Liam, stopped them. He glared at the Glacia Knights and turned back to Ulfhar. ¡°Lady Reeze told us the day before that the final decision has yet to be made. However, she is certain the Imperial Training in the Wintermoon estate will end here. We will probably return to the capital, where the remaining stages of the Imperial training will continue. Too many demons have been sighted in the last few months, but we cannot be everywhere. The kingdom needs the Imperials as soon as possible, otherwise, worse things will happen.¡± Worse than the incident two days ago? Yeah, I have a bad feeling about that as well. Demons were said to rarely visit the mortal plane. Looks like that wasn¡¯t true. Percy wanted to say his thoughts aloud, but he kept quiet. That was probably for the best. ¡°The capital? I think stopping at the capital is a good decision,¡± He said instead. The capital would have been his next stop as well. Though other cities with larger businesses and enough Gifted, Cardists, and Egos to purchase valuable ¨C Ego-enhanced ¨C goods would have done the deed too. ¡°If you¡¯re coming with us to the capital because of your debt to the Glacia Knight Order, you do not have to worry about it. Lady Reeze made clear that you won¡¯t have to pay a single copper coin to the Glacia Knight Order. She will cover the 17 gold coins and 63 silver you owe to the Glacia Knight Order.¡± Percy tilted his head. ¡°Why would she do that?¡± Uflhar shrugged, but his answer was clear, ¡°Probably because you saved many lives two days ago.¡± Is that really it? I don¡¯t think Melissa is that generous. What did she receive that made her believe she had to pay my debt? Percy thought about it for a few seconds. He ignored the Glacia Knights in the tent and fell deep into thought, trying to come up with a reason. Her action can be considered as paying me for saving the commonbirth Egos and nobles. Did they thank her for that instead, and did she feel guilty about it? Maybe she is growing closer to the other nobles and commonbirth Egos thanks to the incident. He clicked his tongue in annoyance. Not knowing what was going on in Melissa¡¯s mind when she waived his debt was annoying. Still, he accepted it. Why wouldn¡¯t he accept it? Clearing the debt would be annoying. But I have to repay Melissa for the Blueflame Hawk. I cannot leave that behind. If not for the Blueflame Hawk, I would be dead now. [Hawk Eyes] and the other Augmentations saved me during the demon attack and whenever I was out in the woods. The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. Maybe Melissa didn¡¯t feel the need to get repaid for the Monster Card, but Percy felt indebted. The capital will help me earn a lot of money and grow stronger. Deep in thought, Percy didn¡¯t notice Old Knight Liam approaching him. He patted Percy¡¯s shoulder and hinted a smile. ¡°Maybe we can find out more about your¡­identity in the capital.¡± Percy was pulled out of his train of thought and winced. He stared at Liam for a while but nodded slowly. His childhood might have been a little bit lonely, but it had also been special. It was never boring with Greg, though the old man had no idea how to raise a child. He always treated Percy like an adult while staying isolated from the rest of the village. But maybe it was time to open another new chapter of his life. Since everyone was already talking about it, Percy felt it was natural to think about his family too. He had been certain that the door was closed because he never thought to reunite with them, but there was no doubt Percy was curious about his background. He should have died activating the Staff of Leech seven times in a row, yet he didn¡¯t. At that time, it didn¡¯t feel like his Essence would run out anytime soon. If anything, his lifeforce and mana would have given in way before his Essence dried out. But that didn¡¯t make any sense. Why did he not die there? How did his Essence not run out? Who¡­was he? One moment, Percy had been an ordinary young man without family, and in the next moment, he fought against a bunch of demons to protect a handful of snotty nobles¡­only to find out he might be one of them as well. That was creepy, but it would be foolish to run away from reality. Something was off about his identity, and the more he thought about it, the more annoyed he became. He nodded toward Knight Liam. ¡°Let¡¯s find out who I am!¡± ** The final decision was made the day after Percy talked to the Glacia Knight Captain. They would leave the Wintermoon estate at noon and travel to the nearest city, where they would use the Portal to the capital. It was expensive and usually only used for emergencies, but time was of the essence. The portal would shorten their travel by weeks, which the Imperial Instructors hoped to be enough to finish the remaining stages of the Imperial Training before more Elite Demons terrorized the kingdom. Early in the morning, the tents were removed and collected, and all essentials were stored, and they started moving out in one large group. That was how their time in the Wintermoon estate ended. The group was too large for the narrow track leading out of the Moonlight Forest, transforming the caravan into an easy target for monsters. At least, that was what the monsters attacking them thought. To their misfortune, nobody was afraid of the monsters daring to attack the caravan. The monsters were repelled without slowing the caravan. They reached the exit of the Moonlight Forest in the late evening, which was much faster than Percy expected. He was certain they would have to travel another day through the forest to escape the dangers of the densely grown Moonlight Forest. Percy felt glad to be back in the wide-open lands of the Meiso Plains, and he wasn¡¯t alone with that. Everyone was glad to escape the Moonlight Forest after everything that had happened. They slept soundly outside the forest and resumed traveling to the center of the Meiso Plains as the sun rose. Not many words were exchanged on the trip. Everyone was tense or in their own world of thoughts, trying to find a way to accept what had happened and how to prevent it from ever happening again. The answer was easy to name but difficult to turn into reality. Growing stronger would solve most issues, but how easy was it to grow into a truly powerful Gifted? Percy sighed deeply, the tension of those around him gnawing on him. Since he didn¡¯t have a mount and couldn¡¯t be bothered asking others if he could ride with them, Percy chose to resume his seat next to the coachman. The coachman had been nice to him on their trip to the Wintermoon estate, and Percy was certain the serious man¡¯s attitude wouldn¡¯t change. Unfortunately, Percy was wrong about that. The coachman¡¯s attitude changed drastically. He was more submissive, didn¡¯t dare to speak up again, and responded in an overly formal tone. The sudden change of attitude drove Percy crazy. He tried asking the coachman a few questions about nobility, how bastards are treated, and similar topics. Since Percy was unsure what to do in his situation, he¡¯d hoped the coachman could alleviate some of his worries, but the serious man was clearly the wrong man to ask. If not for Erik and Tarlek, Percy would have been all alone with his thoughts and worries. The brothers were his ray of hope in the swamp that threatened to swallow him whole. He was glad they would be with him until they reached the capital and after that as well! B2 Chapter 21 - Portal Percy had never been in a city before, but the most recent events tormented his mind, diminishing the magnificent experience as they reached the closest city with a Portal. The city was enormous. Its pristine walls stretched far and high, filling Percy¡¯s vision with its grandeur. Yet, instead of looking at the six-meter-high walls surrounding the city, Percy entered the city through the massive gates. The men and women guarding the city gates greeted the caravan in an overly polite manner. That pulled Percy out of his train of thought. I wonder if you guys would behave like that if nobody were a knight, noble, or Ego. Would you treat us with this exaggerated, fake friendliness? He sneered inwardly and turned away. His time in the Wintermoon estate taught him a lot. Even if he felt more respected and valued in Raewood, Percy¡¯s short life as an Ego in the village didn¡¯t reveal much about the real world and the gap between nobles, commonbirth Egos, and knights. Nobles were considered as the kingdom¡¯s pillars of support for a reason. They were the strongest. Yet, Percy was unsure if giving them so much authority alongside the power they¡¯d inherited was a good decision. They might not be lazy and didn¡¯t shy away from fighting the demons, but the personality of half the heirs sucks. And that is not even the worst¡­ I can tell how their behavior ¨C the sudden change of behavior ¨C influences me. They treat me differently now that they have no clue whether I am an anomaly or some lost noble son. The sense of power to control and influence the nobles is¡­addicting. Percy sighed inwardly as his thoughts tormented his mind. They traveled through the bustling city streets, which were said to have close to 100,000 residents. That was a considerable number, which Percy couldn¡¯t even imagine. It was already hard to fathom what it would look like if 1,000 humans were to gather at one location, but 100,000? Even though his Ego forced Percy to learn more about numbers to understand the value and price for each consumed object and each Ego-enhancement, Percy was more challenged imagining so many people in one city. ¡°It¡¯s amazing, isn¡¯t it?¡± Erik exclaimed next to Percy. Erik was still seated on his Crimson Wolf, which stared at the horses pulling the carriage with uncontrollable hunger. It licked its lips, which scared the horses even more. Still, the coachman had everything under control. He was the best at his job. ¡°The city? It sure is. I wonder how strong I can grow in a city like this,¡± Percy responded, imagining opening a shop and earning a fortune with his Ego¡¯s support. ¡°Is thinking about your Ego and how to grow stronger imprinted in your brain, or can you stop that?¡± Erik asked half-teasingly, half-seriously. Percy shrugged, ¡°The last few months of my life have been a dragon ride, and I only survived this long because I kept growing stronger. Maybe my goal is not as great as your vengeance and the desire to stop Monster Rampages before they can cause any more harm to villages like yours, but I want to survive. I encountered an Infernal Lair in the middle of nowhere, where no Infernal Lair was supposed to be. If not for the Glacia Knights, my village would be no more either. I was too weak to do anything too. That was when I decided to put more effort into growing stronger.¡± He sighed deeply, ¡°The incident in the Wintermoon estate showed me the dangers of the seven hells and that something is about to happen. I want to be prepared for it.¡± Erik raised an eyebrow, but he didn¡¯t say anything. He was known as the happy and optimistic brother, but his attitude right now was more like Tarlek¡¯s seriousness. ¡°We arrived at the Portal, sir.¡± The coachman said politely, resulting in a silent curse from Percy. Can you not behave like you did before? Percy was distracted by the massive foundation located in the city center. Eight humongous pillars, obsidian-black and coated in countless silver lines ¨C runic engravings ¨C unfolded before him. The pillars were connected by the silver lines, which created a cobweb of engravings around the center of the foundation, where Percy found a large, silver shimmering ring. The ring was more than six meters in diameter and made entirely from the silver shining material that had also been used for the runic engravings. This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. Percy made out several layers of silver runic engravings on top of the silver ring¡¯s surface. [Hawk Eyes] helped him with that. As the caravan approached the Portal, Melissa and some of her friends approached the guards. They exchanged a few words, and the guards bowed even deeper than the batch at the city gate. The guards turned to a cloaked man who retrieved a translucent orb. He channeled mana into the fist-sized rob, which activated the Portal. The silver lines all over the foundation started glowing as they absorbed the surrounding mana. Percy twitched in surprise when the suctioning force reached him. It threatened to suck him dry for a moment, only to wash over him without doing anything. Percy sighed in relief and glanced over to the ring¡¯s center, where mana gathered and compressed. Percy could only see it because the mana was so densely compressed it transformed into liquid. The liquid mana stretched thin, forming a paper-thin mana membrane that covered the ring¡¯s hollow interior. The blue liquid membrane shifted slowly as the silver glow in the surrounding pillars diminished. The silver tone of the runic engravings dispersed, dying the mana membrane silver. Imagines flickered in the silver membrane, revealing what was on the other side of it. In the images, guards rushed closer, their bodies tense and weapons unsheathed. ¡°Did nobody tell them we would arrive soon?¡± One of the younger nobles nearby complained. Percy ignored him and stared at the scenery unfolding in the images¡¯ background. New details were added to the images, and it didn¡¯t take long before the connection to the ¡®other side¡¯ was completed. Melissa approached the Portal and pressed her hand gently against the silver membrane. The membrane rippled, which resulted in a faint curse from a handful of nobles, but Melissa wasn¡¯t bothered. Or she acted like it didn¡¯t bother her. ¡°What¡¯s the problem?¡± Percy asked, trying to understand what the problem was. ¡°The ripples are the problem. It means the Portal Guards do not accept our verification, sir.¡± The coachman explained, glancing into Percy¡¯s utterly confused face before he continued, ¡°The Portal Guards deny Lady Reeze¡¯s identity. I sure hope this is only a misunderstanding, otherwise, heads will roll. Maybe some heads will roll even if it is a misunderstanding¡­¡± The coachman swallowed hard while Percy¡¯s attention averted back to Melissa. She tensed up but stepped through the ripples in the Portal nonetheless. One or two surprised gasps resounded, but Percy ignored them. He focused on the images of the other side as they returned. The ripples were no more, revealing the massive structures in the background. However, the place Percy focused on the most was behind the oldest knight among the Portal Guards. It was a massive palace surrounded by acres of wood. ¡°Is there a forest in the capital?! Why in the seven hells would anyone kee¡ª...¡± Percy couldn¡¯t finish his sentence when the coachman grasped his shoulder tightly. He looked at Percy with terror in his eyes, ¡°Please don¡¯t speak like this, sir. The forest belongs to the royalty. Questioning their actions¡­ I wouldn¡¯t do that if I were you, sir. Please, for your sake¡­¡± The coachman had more to say, but Percy waved dismissively at him. ¡°How about you calm down a little? I won¡¯t talk badly about their little forest. But do you know why they keep the forest? It doesn¡¯t look like a large piece of land compared to everything else, but isn¡¯t it dangerous?¡± The coachman looked like he was about to faint, forcing Percy to retract his question. Is asking questions a taboo now, or what? What is going on in the capital or with this forest? Or the royalty if ordinary people are afraid to talk about them. Percy shrugged and pointed at Melissa, who returned from the other side of the Portal. She waved in their direction, motioning the caravan to follow her as she turned around to step through the Portal once again. The caravan jumped into action, and the small army of commonbirth Egos, nobles, and knights approached the Portal. They stepped through without hesitation, even though a glimmer of doubt flickered in the eyes of many. It didn¡¯t look like many had used the Portal before. Percy was a little tense but remained seated in Lady Reeze¡¯s carriage even as the horses disappeared from the portal. They were also dragged through the silver liquid, but the sensation was different than expected. It was almost like a quick, disgusting shower as something slimy and wet washed over Percy. However, he didn¡¯t get wet. The silver liquid washed over him, swallowed Percy, and spit him out on the other side. That was disgusting¡­and a little, just a tiny bit, amazing. Percy thought when he opened his eyes to the majestic sight of the Kainesh Kingdom¡¯s grand capital! B2 Chapter 22 - The Duke Percy didn¡¯t want to be here. He¡¯d hoped his arrival at the capital would open new doors, but that was mostly related to becoming a businessman to make full use of his Ego. Come to think of it. Since when did my plan change from becoming a Knight to transforming into a full-fledged businessman? Erdwin would be proud of me. Pery snickered inwardly but his expression remained stoic. He would much rather be busy fighting a handful ¨C maybe even dozens ¨C of demons than standing around in an entrance hall, surrounded by more than a dozen butlers and maids, doing nothing. First, Percy was being appraised by the butlers and maids, though silently and with fleeting glances. They were trying their best to hide their curiosity but failed miserably. Percy¡¯s Tier and Augmentation pushed his senses high enough to perceive their gazes easily. ¡°Why am I here in the first place?¡± Percy mumbled, glancing to the side where he found the Glacia Knights. The Glacia Knights were at ease and chatted lightly until the heavy wooden doors at the side of the entrance hall opened smoothly. The heavy doors swung open without a creak, revealing a middle-aged man who looked eerily similar to Melissa Reeze. He was older, but his amber eyes were full of vigor. His gait was confident and graceful ¨C on the verge of majestic ¨C but even as he maintained his gait, Percy couldn¡¯t discover a single opening. The man before him didn¡¯t lower his guard, not even in his own home. That was the Reeze Duke, Melissa¡¯s father. The Glacia Knights stiffened and pressed their right hands against their left chests with enough vigor to smash their fists against their armors¡¯ chest plates. The metallic thud resounded loudly, but nobody flinched at the sudden cacophony. In fact, nobody moved an inch. That¡¯s a bit impressive. Percy acknowledged silently, his eyes trained on the Reeze Duke. He didn¡¯t need a highly sensitive perception to tell how powerful the Reeze Duke was. A single glance was more than enough to tell. The Reeze Duke was one of the strongest men in the kingdom. He gestured to the Glacia Knights to be at ease and glanced over to Percy. The Duke was smiling, but Percy didn¡¯t feel like he was in pleasant company. If anything, he felt like the Duke was going to rip him into shreds if he dared to make a single mistake. One wrong word and Percy¡¯s life would be over. ¡°You must be Percy. I am honored to meet my daughter¡¯s savior,¡± the Reeze Duke greeted him and stretched out his hand for a handshake. Percy had [Hawk Eyes] activated the moment the Reeze Duke emerged from the side of the room, and that was probably for the best. The butlers and maids didn¡¯t make any big moves, but their eyes widened in utter surprise when they saw their master¡¯s stretched-out hand. He tilted his head slightly to glance at the Glacia Knights, who were similarly surprised. What am I supposed to do now? Shake his hand and get executed if that is a test to figure me out, or I will get executed for rejecting his handshake and humiliating the Reeze Duke in his estate. Great. That¡¯s just great! Percy felt like running away for a moment, but he regained control of his body and mind shortly afterward. He cursed his overthinking nature for another moment before raising his hand to shake the Reeze Duke¡¯s hand. Percy looked straight into the vibrant ember eyes of the Duke, deciding to go with the flow rather than imagining getting executed for every mistake he may or may not have made. So what if he made a mistake? The Reeze Duke grasped Percy¡¯s hand tightly and was about to say something when he looked seriously into Percy¡¯s eyes for the first time. His lips parted, but they closed a moment later. His head flicked to the old knight, Liam, and the Glacia Knight Captain, a trace of confusion and anger igniting in his eyes. ¡°His eyes.¡± He barely said, which resulted in Ulfhar nodding. Meanwhile, Knight Liam stepped forward. ¡°We planned to tell you right away, but¨C...¡± He was interrupted when the Reeze Duke raised his hand. ¡°But I told you to bring him over without delay. I see.¡± The sound of heels clattering on the polished floor resounded, and the Reeze Duke turned around, revealing two women in beautiful, fluttering dresses. One of the women was Melissa, wearing a light dress in a dark bluish tone. It fit her very well and highlighted her beauty once again. Still, seeing Melissa in a dress was weird. This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it. She looks better in armor. This feels wrong. Melissa was clearly uncomfortable in the dress and didn¡¯t even try to hide her discontent. She glared at the middle-aged woman next to her. The woman didn¡¯t look much older, but the resemblance of their facial features was cunning. The unknown beauty was most definitely Melissa¡¯s mother. She had long, black, silky hair and dark eyes. Her facial features weren¡¯t exotic, but combined with her bright beige dress, Melissa¡¯s mother looked completely different than her daughter. The combination of similarities between the daughter-mother pair and their difference created a unique scenery, which confused Percy much more than it should. ¡°Melissa. Why did you not tell me about Percy¡¯s eyes,¡± The Reeze Duke asked, ignoring his daughter¡¯s displeasure. ¡°What about his eyes, father? They¡¯re nice, but that¡¯s it.¡± Melissa responded with a shrug. Her mother¡¯s tongue clicked quietly, clearly not happy about the way Melissa spoke, but Melisa didn¡¯t mind. At this very moment, Melissa was too annoyed about her mother forcing a dress on her to realize her father¡¯s reaction. ¡°So, you didn¡¯t think his eye color would be of any importance? Are you serious right now?¡± Melissa slowed down and looked at Percy for the first time. She saw the glint of his azure eyes without saying anything. However, her mother, who glanced at Percy for the first time as well, exclaimed quietly. ¡°Oh my!¡± The Reeze Duke grunted, ¡°Yes. Oh my.¡± ¡°I¡­am sorry to butt into your little discussion¡­but I hope you can let go of my hand, please¡­sir¡­¡± Percy grit his teeth through pain, his hand already crunching from the force the Reeze Duke had applied while calling out his daughter. He was frustrated and let off some steam through the handshake. Percy¡¯s hand didn¡¯t like that. The Reeze Duke glanced back at Percy and looked down at his hand before letting go. ¡°Thank you, sir,¡± Percy said, genuinely happy to keep his hand. It hurt a bit but wasn¡¯t broken. That was enough for him. Or, it would have been enough if their discussion hadn¡¯t revolved around him and his eye color. ¡°I don¡¯t want to sound rude or break any common rules of courtesy, but since everyone here is talking about me and my eyes, I guess it is fine to ask what exactly everyone is talking about. Why is my eye color such a big deal?¡± One of the butlers gasped quietly but quickly sealed his mouth and looked to the ground, trying to avoid punishment by all means. The Reeze Duke and his wife looked at him, while Melissa continued down the flight of steps to the entrance hall, where everyone stood. ¡°Your eye color is not commonly seen in the Kainesh kingdom¡­or anywhere in the mortal realm,¡± The Duchess explained before anyone could say something. She arrived next to her daughter and approached Percy and her husband. However, her eyes were trained on Percy the whole time. ¡°Have you heard about the Manyeas theory?¡± Percy shook his head slowly, which resulted in an expecting nod. ¡°The theory is complex and lengthy, but to summarize it in a single sentence, The theory revolves around the influence mana has on eye colors. The higher your mana purity, the brighter your eyes will be. That is how Melissa¡¯s brown eyes ¨C her eye color was just like mine ¨C shifted into vibrant amber eyes when she gained access to mana and manifested an Ego. For the records, I do have access to mana, but my family rarely awakens an Ego. The Egos in our family are much stronger than the norm, though. Don¡¯t underestimate my family,¡± She winked at Percy when the last words echoed through the entrance hall. Percy was unsure if revealing this much in the entrance hall was okay. He expected some of the information he¡¯d just learned to be secretive, but nobody bats an eyelid at it. Still, Percy was confused at the input of information. He unsheathed his sword a few centimeters until he could see his reflection in the blade. A few seconds overflowing with tension passed before Percy sheathed his blade again. The tension subsided as Percy shrugged. ¡°I figured that my mana purity was higher than the norm when I Melissa and some heirs, but my eyes have always been like this. The Gift and Ego I manifested a few months ago didn¡¯t alter my eye color,¡± Percy clarified, which resulted in a deep sigh from the Reeze Duke. ¡°That is even more problematic, kid,¡± He said, ¡°There are only two families in the kingdom¡¯s records speaking about babies born with azure eyes. One of the families betrayed the king.¡± The Reeze Duke pinched his nosebridge, ¡°The family was executed for siding with the Devil, who cursed the heir of the throne. It might not surprise you, but the traitors were killed. The Old King decreed the death of all family members without a single exception since the corruption of the Devil spread across the Synther household, infesting everyone. We do not judge the Old King for his actions. After all, the Old King lost his grandson to the terrors of the Devil.¡± Percy was unsure how to react to this news. Was he the only survivor of the Synther household? That possibility was possible, but it didn¡¯t feel quite right. ¡°What about the other family? You mentioned another family giving birth to babies with azure-colored eyes,¡± Percy asked before quickly adding,¡± Sir.¡± His heart palpated wildly, and it felt like his heart was about to explode at any moment, but the Reeze Duke shook his head slowly. ¡°The other family is the Royal house, but the heir to the crown is their only male heir. He died tragically, cursed by the Devil as a baby, and tormented by the curse until he took his last breath.¡± That¡¯s sad and all, but I don¡¯t care about the crown prince¡¯s tragic story, the kingdom¡¯s traitors and all that nonsense. Who the hell am I?! B2 Chapter 23 - In the Shadows ¡°I don¡¯t know who you are,¡± The Reeze Duke answered Percy¡¯s doubt. Or didn¡¯t answer it, depending on how you looked at it. The new intel was a lot to digest, but it was essentially useless to Percy. Not even the Reeze Duke had a clue who Percy was. ¡°There have been one or two instances of people¡¯s eyes changing to blue as their mana purity increased, but your vibrant azure is known as the Eyes of Purity. This is not about having highly purified mana but pure mana. The current king is probably the best example if you want to see someone else with azure blue eyes,¡± The Duchess explained, but there was a hint of something Percy couldn¡¯t quite grasp. He tilted his head and let his thoughts roam, only to be interrupted by a heavy sigh from the left. The Reeze Duke was sighing again. He was tired of thinking about what Percy was and where he came from. That was understandable. Even Percy felt a headache creeping up the back of his head. ¡°You rescued my daughter and the Imperial prospects.¡± He initiated the change of topic, ¡°I wish to show you my gratitude for your heroic action. What can I do to repay this debt? Do you need something?¡± Percy was still deep in thought, but he was glad about the change of topic. I do need a lot, but I¡¯m not sure what I can ask for without turning you against me. ¡°Give me all your treasures!¡± would be among the stupidest things I could request. Am I allowed to request something in the first place? Melissa gave me the Blueflame Hawk Monster Card. However, her motive was different, and she invested in my growth. ¡°Your daughter gave me an Elite Monster Card before. The Monster Card helped me survive and grow strong enough to rescue your heir. That being said, I do not think I deserve any rewards. If anything, we helped each other in our own unique ways.¡± Melissa intercepted before Percy could say anything else or her father could reenter the conversation. ¡°The Monster Card was my investment. It is completely unrelated to my father¡¯s actions. You still owe me!¡± She declared, pointing fingers at Percy, who cursed inwardly. It would have been too good if he could sever all debts to the Reeze house in one go. His debt to the Glacia Knight Order had already been paid, after all. The Duke glanced at his daughter with a tinge of interest, his head tilted momentarily. Melissa stared intently at her father, not budging underneath his intense stare. Her father then nodded slowly. ¡°I won¡¯t allow my daughter to pay for what I consider my debt. The Monster Card and everything else she retrieved on the Wintermoon estate trip belong to her. So¡­¡± The Reeze Duke¡¯s amber eyes studied Percy, ¡°What do you want?¡± *** ¡°What do you think?¡± The Duchess asked her husband after everyone dispersed. The couple returned to the Duke¡¯s office, where the Glacia Knights showed Percy the way to the barracks of the Glacia Knight Order. The duke looked at his wife with a forced smile, ¡°I think you need to be a little bit more clear, darling. Are you talking about this kid¡¯s eyes, his Ego, the fact that he could use the Staff of Leech twice as many times as our daughter without decimating his soul to dust, or that he denied my request to repay him for saving everyone?¡± This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. The middle-aged duke looked weary as the words escaped his lips while the Duchess¡¯ smile widened. ¡°I am talking about Percy, yes. But while his identity is a mystery ¨C nothing we¡¯ve learned today makes sense ¨C I am more interested in the persona behind Percy. Did you sense his Tier? Melissa was initially reluctant, but she told me about their little Imperiat. The kid tried copying her Inheritance Arts by accident, of course. Ulfhar and Old Liam must have sensed something because they orchestrated everything.¡± The duchess lifted her hand to stop her husband from saying anything, ¡°Ulfhar and Old Liam take responsibility for this incident. They didn¡¯t expect Percy to do it, but he copied some of the family¡¯s movement sequences. Of course, without any elemental powers involved, but that may change. Did you hear about his discovery of the Blueflame Hawk¡¯s [Frostbite] Augmentation and that he is already about to reach the Awakened Tier? He is probably stronger than Melissa at this point¡­and if the information about him is correct, I presume since they come from your knights, Percy has been a poor orphan before he manifested his Ego half a year ago.¡± The Duke studied his wife, and it wouldn¡¯t take much for another sigh to escape his lips, but he controlled himself. ¡°I heard most of it already. The Imperiat is news to me, but I haven¡¯t had the chance to talk to the Glacia Knights alone yet. You seem oddly interested in Percy. What do you want us to do? If he is from the Synther family, a child who has been overseen during the execution, which should not have been the case as everyone was very thorough, Percy will be executed soon. If he isn¡¯t a child of the Synther¡­he is an anomaly, and I¡¯m not sure how the other nobles will behave if they find out about him. That said, some of them must have already heard about Percy and set their plans into motion.¡± ¡°Is that why you told him to stay in the Glacia Knight Order¡¯s barracks for now?¡± The duchess asked, but her husband laughed in response. ¡°I was just annoyed he wouldn¡¯t accept anything from me. He can stay in the barracks forever if he doesn¡¯t want to leave. But then again, I doubt this kid will stay here for long. His Ego will pull him to the merchant district or the Merchant Guild. Maybe even both,¡± The duke shrugged. ¡°I think we should bind him to our house. His Ego will be of great use. We can prepare Monster Cards, Artifacts, and Armaments of the greatest quality with stashes of gold for him. We will gain special Monster Cards and stronger Artifacts from him while he earns money and rank-ups. That is a win-win situation. The duke I know would never hesitate to pull his weight to lure in Egos with the potential to become the greatest,¡± The duchess remarked, ¡°What changed?¡± ¡°His identity¡­¡± The Reeze Duke commented quietly. ¡°Do you think he is a son of the Synther? I can¡¯t believe that. The royal family must have heard about Percy already. If there was the faintest possibility of him being a Synther, they would have long since sent the Kingsguard to take Percy into custody. But that didn¡¯t happen.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right¡­ but maybe that¡¯s the problem. Who exactly is that child?¡± ** Percy was glad his meeting with the duke didn¡¯t take long. He answered most questions honestly and didn¡¯t hide too much crucial information. If he is curious about my identity, I won¡¯t have to start searching for my family or clues leading to them. He can do all the work while I enjoy my life here! That sounded like a great plan to Percy if not for the unwelcome guest in the room he had been given in the Glacia Knight Order¡¯s barracks. The outlines of an unknown man hiding in his cozy room''s shadows were unraveled through [Hawk Eyes]. If the man hiding in the shadows wasn¡¯t enough to be concerned about his well-being, the dark daggers in the man¡¯s hands certainly were. I only want some peace. Am I asking for too much?! B2 Chapter 24 - Boom Percy kept a straight face as he walked through his small but comfortable room. His eyes threatened to expose Percy for a moment, but he regained control of himself. Why is someone else in my room, hiding in the shadows with daggers in his hands? I cannot sense any bloodlust, but it is not like you cannot hide bloodlust. That guy must be an assassin. But why would anyone assassinate me? Did I offend someone? The Reeze Duke wouldn¡¯t do something like that while I reside in his Order¡¯s barracks. But then¡­how did someone else find out I would sleep in the barracks? Too many questions flashed through his mind, and he wondered if the assassin had been following him for a while now. But if that was the case¡­why? Percy was curious who that guy was, who had sent him, and for what reason he had been hired, but his self-preservation was much greater. He tried to stay as calm as possible as he walked past the assassin, who didn¡¯t move an inch. For a moment, Percy wondered if he had been mistaken and the assassin was merely his shadow or something along those lines, but that wasn¡¯t the case. How much longer will you stay like that? You don¡¯t strike me as impatient or unprofessional with your perfect concealment, but did you sense something off? Was I too obvious? His mind was bombarded by questions as he reached the shadows where the assassin was hiding. He had to walk past the assassin to reach the bed, but going to sleep was the last thing on his mind right now. No matter how tired he was, Percy wouldn¡¯t go to sleep with an assassin in the room. [Hawk Eyes] was fully active, depicting the finest details in the corner of his eyes. It showed Percy enough to tell that the assassin wouldn¡¯t attack him right away. The assassin didn¡¯t move an inch as Percy walked past. However, that didn¡¯t mean Percy would stay silent. On the contrary, Percy was angry and frustrated. His curiosity dispersed, replaced by uncontrollable anger as he swung around with [Berserk] active. His negative emotions amplified while his strength and speed increased drastically. A blade made of [Frostbite] conjured in his hand, and mana churned through his entire body, further augmenting his speed and strength, just like [Basic Strength Boost] and [Basic Agility Boost] did. Percy¡¯s body creaked and groaned from the power surging through him, but he didn¡¯t care. He stabbed the assassin, who reacted incredibly fast. He was surprised but moved quickly enough to lift his arm and block the frostbite blade with one dagger. Percy¡¯s tongue clicked in annoyance, but his attack was not over. The frostbite blade exploded the instant the assassin blocked his attack, releasing countless icicle shards in all directions. The assassin was about to counterattack, ignoring the freezing chill filling the air, when a frostbite icicle whisked at him from the left ¨C the Blueflame Hawk was summoned via [Silent Reaper] the moment Percy spun around. The Blueflame Hawk had summoned an icicle and attacked the assassin, who responded too slowly as a Gnoll Warrior manifested next to Percy at the same time. The Gnoll Warrior¡¯s eyes were crimson red as the [Berserk] Augmentation activated, and it attacked at the same time as the frostbite icicle headed for the assassin¡¯s head. The assassin cursed softly and emerged from the shadows to cleave through the frostbite icicle, only to find one of the Gnoll Warrior¡¯s claws pierce through the assassin¡¯s chest. The Gnoll Warrior had been faster than expected, whereas his other arm moved too slowly to block the incoming attack. The exploding frostbite blade had slowed his reaction, even if it was only by a quarter of a second. Percy released [Frostbite] to pierce the assassin¡¯s hands with two icicles, forcing the assassin to let go of his weapons. The assassin groaned in pain, but Percy didn¡¯t care. No questions were asked. Instead, Percy¡¯s hands reached for the mask covering the assassin¡¯s face. However, before Percy could discover the assassin¡¯s identity, something unexpected happened. His high mana perception picked up something odd. It was almost like a storm started brewing in the assassin¡¯s chest. A storm of mana. ¡°Come with me!¡± The assassin roared, blood leaking through his mask. At this moment, Percy realized something bad was about to happen. The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement. He instinctively retrieved the Gnoll Warrior and the Blueflame Hawk, spun around on his heels, and charged out of the room. ¡°Too late.¡± The assassin¡¯s voice resounded in a whisper through the tiny room as Percy reached the door. A moment later, the assassin exploded, taking the room and everything inside it with him. *** ¡°So¡­you¡¯re telling me an assassin was waiting for you in your room, and he killed himself by what felt like transforming his mana reserves into a storm?¡± An elderly man, the head of the Glacia Knight Order, asked in a large office. Damian Sergon had been busy with the reports of the Glacia Knights, who had been assigned as Melissa¡¯s retinue when the explosion happened. The building shook violently, and everyone feared it would collapse suddenly. However, the structure stood firm. Unfortunately, the same couldn¡¯t be said about its interior. One of the guest rooms in the barracks had been utterly demolished, and even the walls of the adjacent rooms were damaged. The cracks spread from one side of the wall to the other side. ¡°I¡¯m not sure what you want me to tell you. I nearly died in there,¡± Percy retorted, seated opposite the head of the Glacia Knight Order with most of his clothes missing. A young man wielding a wooden wand urged Percy to stop moving as he continued healing him. A small lizard with an anti-proportionally long tail screeched happily on the Healer¡¯s right shoulder. It used the same power as the Healer to soothe Percy¡¯s pain and accelerate the healing process. ¡°I¡¯m just trying to figure out what happened. You have been in the capital for less than a day, but someone is already trying to assassinate you? Are you trying to fool me?!¡± Percy frowned deeply. Is he telling me I instigated all of this? Why in the seven hells would I do that? If I hadn¡¯t made it out of the room, I would be dead now! He felt like saying a lot of things to the Glacia Knight Order¡¯s head but refrained from doing so. ¡°To be honest, I don¡¯t care if you believe me. It is a fact that I don¡¯t have a suitable Ego or Augmentations to demolish the barracks like that. If you are still trying to say I did something which I couldn¡¯t have done even if I wanted to ¨C which is not the case as I don¡¯t have a reason to destroy the barracks ¨C you can do as you please.¡± ¡°You should mind your manners, kiddo.¡± Damian Sergon reminded Percy curtly. ¡°I only show respect to those who respect me. You haven¡¯t shown me an ounce of respect, and you are hinting I did something evil even though you have no reason to do so,¡± Percy spat back, the aftermath of [Berserk] fueling him with anger, ¡°That being said, you should mind your manners!¡± Damian was about to retort but decided against it. He nodded slowly and pointed to some files. ¡°I guess you¡¯re right. You might not accept this as an excuse, but the Duke and the Glacia Knight Order have been in the court a few times in the last few moons. That might not interest you, but today¡¯s incident can be used against the Glacia Knight Order. The crown won¡¯t trust the Glacia Knight Order with crucial missions if they cannot even protect a guest in their own barracks,¡± The Glacia Knight Order head explained, the agitation leaving his voice. That doesn¡¯t mean you can blame me for everything, dumbass! Percy thought, but he calmed down. There was no need to attack a defeated man. There was no need for that. ¡°All I want to know is how the assassin knew I would be in the barracks of the Glacia Knight Order and that I would be given this particular room. Either someone in the Glacia Knight Order has been waiting for a guest to arrive, or the assassin has been following me. I guess it is the latter. Unfortunately, my Ego didn¡¯t pick up something, otherwise, I should have been able to find out the Assassin¡¯s name.¡± The only time Percy absorbed human corpses was the day he killed the Adventurers. He recalled their faces and the names popping up on the interfaces and that his Ego moved against his intentions. Unfortunately, no interface popped up this time. ¡°You think the assassin was sent to kill you not because you are a guest of the Glacia Knight Order but because of your eyes and identity?¡± Damian asked, snorting when he saw Percy¡¯s expression, ¡°I am not blind or deaf. I can see your eye color and have heard enough about the unknown identity of the kid in the Wintermoon estate to put one and one together.¡± Percy nodded reluctantly. ¡°Someone who doesn¡¯t want you in the capital must have ordered your assassination if your guess is correct,¡± He said with a shrug, ¡°That means the capital holds the secret of your identity. I¡¯d consider that a gain.¡± Percy blinked but said nothing. Would you consider it as a gain if someone ordered your death? Not only do you have problems controlling your temper, but you are also insane! For a moment, Percy didn¡¯t want anything else than to leave. Still, Damien¡¯s words resounded in his head. ¡°Someone wants to stop me from discovering who I am¡­¡± Could that be it? B2 Chapter 25 - Roaming Damian Sergon walked past the guards and hurriedly entered the Reeze estate. He hinted a bow to Melissa, who was training in the front yard, and rushed to the duke¡¯s office, where the Reeze Duke was already waiting. ¡°Paul, we have a pro¨C....¡± Damian couldn¡¯t even finish the sentence before the duke raised his hand to stop his old friend, ¡°I know. I heard about it. The rumors are spreading like wildfire.¡± ¡°No, you don¡¯t understand, Paul. The assassination attempt was probably not an attempt to tarnish the Order¡¯s reputation,¡± Damian said in a hurry, cursing a few times before he sat down opposite the duke¡¯s office table, ¡°The kid perceived a storm brewing in the assassin¡¯s chest before the explosion wreaked havoc, nearly killing that foolish child.¡± Paul Reeze was about to say something, but his lips remained sealed when his old friend finished with what he had to say. ¡°A storm?¡± He asked, his tone even more serious than before. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Does Percy know what that means?¡± Paul inquired, only to shake his head at his question, ¡°Nevermind. Probably not. That kid has never been in a proper city, let alone the capital, before today.¡± The duke looked Damian straight in the eyes, ¡°Did you tell him not to mention the storm again?¡± The head of the Glacia Knight Order chuckled, breaking the tension in the air, ¡°The kid won¡¯t mention the mana storm again.¡± ¡°Are you sure he is not tricking you?¡± Damian waved his hand dismissively, ¡°I am certain. In fact, I didn¡¯t talk about the mana storm. Instead, I ensured the kid would hate me by acting like a bloke. He was too angry and complaining about my attitude to think about the mana storm.¡± ¡°So¡­¡± Paul¡¯s lips twitched, ¡°You are telling me you aren¡¯t one?¡± Damian glared at the duke, but the seriousness quickly broke their friendly banter. ¡°As long as he doesn¡¯t mention the Sacrifice Storm again¡­¡± Paul cursed quietly. ¡°You know what that means.¡± Damian nodded, but a hint of confusion flickered in his eyes. The existence of Sacrifice Storms, the method used by the assassin who¡¯d fought against Percy, wasn¡¯t known by many. Its existence was a legend in some prestigious circles because only a handful of people learned this technique, and even fewer survived a Sacrifice Storm to talk about it. ¡°This is not against us. Instead, it is an agenda against Percy,¡± Damian nodded, his expression growing more serious as the words entered his mind, ¡°Someone in the palace doesn¡¯t like Percy very much.¡± ¡°And that means¡­¡± Paul mumbled, only for Damian to complete what both were thinking, ¡°Percy might be exactly the person you guessed him to be¡­¡± Paul sunk into his seat, a heavy sigh escaping his lips. The assassination might have given the other nobles enough fuel to tarnish his reputation, but that didn¡¯t matter. Right now, Paul was pulled back to the past, reliving the memories he had buried in the deepest parts of his mind. ¡°But it¡¯s good he survived,¡± Damian said, his words meaning much more than it seemed at first glance, ¡°You can tell how strong that child is. Think about it. Your daughter must have told you the Augmentations he can unlock with the Blueflame Hawk Monster Card. It wouldn¡¯t surprise me if he unlocked most of the Hawk¡¯s Augmentations. It is no surprise the assassin failed.¡± Paul rubbed the back of his head, his eyes lingering on a document, ¡°Their assassination failed miserably. Either they sent one of their weakest, or they underestimated Percy¡¯s power. Sending only one assassin to deal with that kid was a grave mistake.¡± ¡°They didn¡¯t want to attract much attention by sending only one of theirs, only for their plan to backfire. If we exposed where the assassin came from, we could¡­¡± Damian said, but Paul shook his head. ¡°We cannot do that. Not yet. We¡¯re missing too many crucial pieces of information,¡± Paul grumbled, ¡°Let¡¯s give Percy some space and prepare him for the inevitable.¡± You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author. ¡°You mean¡­¡± ¡°Yes. He has to go there. There is no other way.¡± Damian swallowed but nodded. Under normal circumstances, it would have been a great honor to go there, but the head of the Glacia Knight Order couldn¡¯t help but feel bad for Percy. The kid was pulled from one burning stove to the next. It was almost like someone wanted to keep Percy on fire. ¡°Where is Percy? Did you give him another room or bring him to the estate? The servants can prepare a room for him. Not even they would assassinate someone in my estate¡­ not without starting a war in the capital!¡± Damian smiled wryly while his friend waited for an answer. ¡°Where is he?¡± The Duke had to repeat for Damian to answer. ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± He responded, ¡°Percy said he would roam around the capital to clear his mind.¡± ** Is it really that difficult to find nice people? First, some idiot attacked me out of nowhere, and now the Glacia Knight Order doesn¡¯t believe me and wants to imprison me. Am I that gullible? Damian had been annoying to talk to, but he seemed decent enough to accept his mistake. The head of the Glacia Knight Order didn¡¯t apologize for behaving like a jerk and demanded that Percy stay in the barracks with Ulfhar and his team until all problems had been solved. Percy considered cursing the Glacia Knight Order but decided against it. He told Damian nobody would take away his freedom and that he would leave this place even if it meant fighting with his life on the line. It was probably his fortune that the Glacia Knight Order did not want to tarnish their reputation any further. Damian ¡®allowed¡¯ Percy to leave and roam around. All I want is some peace and silence. How can this be so difficult? The Glacia Knights should have left me behind in Raewood. Why did I jump in front of the Mutant Pleacis to rescue Melissa? I shouldn¡¯t have done that. No¡­I would still have rescued her if I had the chance. I would regret not saving her for the rest of my life. Percy ruffled through his hair, his features distorted in frustration. He walked through the capital''s bustling streets, only to bump into more people than intended. The people around Percy would have glared at him if he didn¡¯t stand like a towering monster. His presence might have been suppressed, but his physical prowess was different from that of others. Ordinary people and some Gifted ran into Percy, but they were the only ones who suffered. Percy was rooted firmly on the ground and didn¡¯t budge. He looked at the people who ran into him and reached down to help them when they fell, but they hurried up and disappeared, not daring to glance in his direction. Percy avoided the masses and vanished into the side alleys. He picked the alleys where the least people were but stayed in the wider streets when he had the opportunity. Some people in the narrow side alleys glared at him like they were about to attack and rob him. Percy didn¡¯t want to push them too far¡­or his Ego would escape his control again. Percy wasn¡¯t in the mood for another fight or another disaster. He had enough of both for a while. The same could be said about the nobles. Percy wanted some peace from the nobles as well. They got on his nerves more often than not. Some time passed, but Percy didn¡¯t notice anything. He was too deep in thought to recognize where he went or how much time passed. But once he noticed something odd, Percy¡¯s ears perked up, and his head flicked upward. ¡°Why does it look so nice here?¡± He mumbled while scanning the area with his Augmentation. The capital was already beautiful if one excluded the bustling streets, but this street was even more magnificent. The alleys were spotless and unblemished. There was no crack in the pristine marbled cobblestone used to build the streets, nor were there any weeds, and the buildings were not only larger but also built further apart than the others. Is that the street of the rich and influential? I¡¯m close to the Reeze estate, then. He looked left and right to spot the duke¡¯s estate but couldn¡¯t find it. That was probably for the best. Percy didn¡¯t want to talk to the duke or any noble for a while now. He also didn¡¯t want to attract too much attention, which was a little difficult. The vicinity wasn¡¯t packed with a myriad of people, but Percy discovered a few people staring in his direction. Some looked weirdly while others faced him with disdain. Looking down, Percy made sure that he was still wearing some clothes. He had changed his clothes and bathed properly after the Healer finished putting him back into one piece. He was cleaned and wore a neat set of clothes. But then again, his clothes were simple, too simple for the rich. His clothes weren¡¯t prestige enough, but that was fine. Percy didn¡¯t have to fit into the bubble of the wealthy. He was fine staying out of it. That was how his eyes drifted to the woods behind a few mansions. The woods stretched wide and deep. The forest in the capital. Do I have to care who owns it? Not really. Nobody will find me in the woods either way! All Percy wanted was to be alone. He needed some rest from¡­everything. The events of the last few weeks and months had been too much for him. Raewood had been much better in regards to his mental health. Maybe the life there pushed him less toward greatness but living a slow and happy life wasn¡¯t too bad either. B2 Chapter 26 - Future The forest within the capital was calming. It filled Percy with peace, something he hadn¡¯t felt for a while. The tension filling his body for the last few weeks dispersed, replaced by a calm, soothing sensation. This feels good. I should spend more time doing nothing important. Training all day is wearing on me. He sighed deeply as the thought flashed through his mind and searched for a comfortable place to sit and ponder. He found a notch in a tree trunk that was barely big enough to sit. Maybe it wasn¡¯t the most comfortable, but Percy sat down nonetheless. His mind was overflowing with too many things to question if he could find a more comfortable place to rest and ponder. He sat and stretched his legs. His back rested against the tree trunk, his eyes searching for tiny gaps in the canopy. The afternoon sun speckled the forest in light. It wouldn¡¯t be long until dusk, but Percy was in no rush. Maybe I¡¯m going to sleep here. Who is going to stop me? At least, no more assassins should come my way if I hide in her¡­probably. Percy shuddered thinking back to his encounter with the assassin. Too many questions flashed through his mind, but none were important enough to think about all day. Of course, he wished to know who ordered his death and why exactly, yet Percy was certain he wouldn¡¯t discover the truth soon enough. Something deep inside him told Percy he wouldn¡¯t like the truth. Maybe it was better to escape the truth a little bit longer. ¡°At least I was stronger than that assassin. But maybe that was because he wasn¡¯t an Ego. He didn¡¯t even use a Monster Card ¨C probably because I didn¡¯t give him any time to use his Monster Card actively. The assassin¡¯s ability to merge into the shadows must have been related to some Augmentation.¡± Percy mumbled while summoning the Blueflame Hawk and the Gnoll Warrior. Percy issued a mental command to the Gnoll Warrior to protect him from potential danger, while the Blueflame Hawk was told to break through the canopy and scan the forest, ensuring nobody was nearby to disturb him. Once that was done, Percy felt even more secure. He finally paid full attention to the past events and what they meant for his future. ¡°Since I left Raewood with the Glacia Knights ¨C involuntarily, but that matters little ¨C I encountered many demons. In Raewood I thought demons were rare to find and incredibly dangerous, however, that isn¡¯t the whole truth. Demons are indeed dangerous, but only if you¡¯re weaker than them ¨C that sounds so stupid,¡± Percy smiled at his stupid comments but continued rambling nonetheless. ¡°The Lesser Demons everyone feared in Raewood can no longer be considered powerful enemies. I can deal with a group of Lesser Demons on my own. Elite Demons are¡­more difficult to deal with, but with enough effort and some pain, I should be strong enough to fight and get rid of them ¨C one at a time, of course.¡± His encounters with the demons had been troublesome, but they also pushed his Tier up by a few ranks too. In fact, his entire time with the Glacia Knights benefitted him a lot. Percy gained more than most Imperial prospects. That included a small fortune. Percy glanced down at his body and found a small leather pouch. It didn¡¯t look special, but the interface revealed the treasures hidden within the ordinary-looking leather pouch. [38x Gold Coins ¨C 418,000 Prosperity] If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Thirty-eight gold coins felt like a lot. It was a lot, no matter where you went. That much gold transformed him into one of the wealthier residents in the capital. Still, it didn¡¯t feel like a lot compared to the fortune Percy had been forced to consume in the Wintermoon estate. The Prosperity he could earn looked especially pitiful in comparison to his past gains. Nonetheless, 38 gold coins were worth a lot. They could turn his life upside down if used properly. Were they counting when they handed me the pouch for the Yvelton Sword and the Tiagro Sword? I can barely make up the Prosperity used on the enchantments [Mana Slash] and [Double Impact]. Percy surrendered his newest creation to Melissa before they arrived in the capital. He didn¡¯t have any means to store the swords neatly and considered negotiating with Lady Reeze to get a good price. Unfortunately, Melissa told him that the weapons did not belong to him in the first place. She made sure to be clear about the ownership of the weapons and that they had to be returned to their parents. However, in the same instance Melissa said this, she handed him a pouch filled with gold. That told Percy much more than a thousand words could. Lady Reeze would keep the sword and shackle all responsibility if someone were to claim them. It was nice to give away the responsibility of getting sent to court for plundering two corpses by taking their weapons, but the money felt insufficient. The Yvelton Sword and the Tiagro Sword were both powerful Elite Artifacts. Their runic enchantments were perfectly adjusted, protecting the Artifacts and runic enchantments from sustaining damage by using them too often. But Percy would have loved to receive more money in return. Maybe I shouldn¡¯t complain so much. Having some gold is better than being left with one silver and a bunch of copper coins. He smiled grimly, his back still pressed against the tree trunk. ¡°But what am I supposed to do now? Am I safe in the capital, or should I leave? That is probably exactly what the instigator behind the assassination attempt wants from me. He or she wants me out of the capital. Is the instigator afraid of me, or am I a nuisance to his ¨C her ¨C plans?¡± Percy tilted his head, a wry smile forming on his lips. ¡°Nobody would be afraid of a nobody. Even if news about my Ego were to spread, nobody would fear me enough to prepare an assassination for me as a welcome gift.¡± He sighed deeply. They, whoever they may be, are afraid of my eyes. They know something I don¡¯t.¡± Percy¡¯s eyes glimmered with determination. Even if there hadn¡¯t been an assassination attempt, he would have stayed in the capital to find out more about his family. However, now that an assassin has gone after his life, Percy is even less willing to leave this place; he would give everything to find his family and destroy the instigator. But that was easier said than done. Should I ask the duke for help? He was curious about my identity and will probably start with the search whether I ask or not. That leaves me with some things to do. A plan formed slowly in his mind. Percy was still not certain what exactly he would do in the future, but his next step seemed fairly straightforward. Time passed slowly, and it wasn¡¯t long before the last rays of sunlight disappeared, leaving Percy in the darkness of the royal forest. He called the Blueflame Hawk back at some point and chose to sleep in the forest. The royal forest felt a lot more secure than the barracks of the Glacia Knight Order or a random inn in the center of the capital. Percy fell into a deep slumber with that thought, not even a minute after closing his eyes. Faint gusts of wind swept through the royal forest, and the animals of the night awoke. However, Percy didn¡¯t care about anything. He slept like a rock while the Gnoll Warrior guarded him from potential threats. Percy didn¡¯t awake until morning. The sun greeted him as it cast bright, warm rays through the small openings in the canopy. They flooded Percy with warmth, granting him everything he needed to get started. He got up, stretched his body, and prepared himself mentally for the day. After all, today was going to be a long day. B2 Chapter 27 - Shopping The first thing Percy did in the morning was to search the shopping alley. He devised a few interesting plans but most required him to look like an esteemed noble or a wealthy Gifted. That was how he ended up in one of the more prestigious tailor shops minutes after they opened. The master tailor accepted only customers if one of his returning customers vouched for them. Percy didn¡¯t want to debate with the master tailor, but he was also unwilling to leave and search for another shop. Purchasing a few sets of clothes from a master tailor, someone who customized dresses, suits, and ¡®casual¡¯ clothes for the nobility, was exactly what Percy needed. ¡°Can Melissa Reeze or her father vouch for me? I can leave and get them if you want¨C...¡± Percy offered lightheartedly, observing as the color in the tailor master¡¯s face drained. ¡°You are acquainted with the duke and his daughter?¡± The master tailor asked slowly while trying to regain composure, but Percy¡¯s nonchalant smile didn¡¯t help. If anything, the master tailor¡¯s expression worsened as he lost against his creative mind. He imagined the worst and quickly covered his shellshocked expression with a business smile. ¡°How may I help you, sir?¡± I am sorry about that. All I want are some clothes. ** Percy left the tailor shop after one hour. The master tailor measured his sizes to customize the sets of clothes Percy had requested before telling him to leave him alone for a while. Percy couldn¡¯t tell how long the master tailor would need to customize the masterpieces, but he wasn¡¯t in a rush. What next? I need new swords for Hyean, leather armor for myself, and a bunch of materials. Buying a building is probably out of the question with my fortune ¨C in the capital at least ¨C but I should have no problem renting a small shop in a decent location. That leaves the supply of goods and¡­a storage device. His stomach grumbled, reminding him of another important task. I also need some good food! Satisfying his stomach was, by far, the easiest task. Percy entered the first bakery he found and purchased a bag full of pastry, bread, and some other stuff he had never seen before. The unknown stuff was delicious and very sweet, but Percy couldn¡¯t understand why there was a hole in them. Why in the seven hells would you put a hole in my sweets?! I paid the full price, so I want everything! He grumbled inwardly but hummed on the outside as he savored the delicious little rings. Filling his stomach was an ordeal, especially for his poor wallet, but Percy enjoyed eating more than anything. He enjoyed every little moment of it and was sad when the bag was empty. ¡°Should I come back here tomorrow?¡± Percy mumbled, the corner of his lips curling upward at the thought. We will see about that. I should shop now! He had been busy eating for a while now but didn¡¯t waste any time and entered a nearby shop. The shop wasn¡¯t big and looked lackluster compared to Erdwin¡¯s shop in Raewood. That was something Percy never expected from the capital. But then again, Erdwin¡¯s shop had been large and filled with treasures. The sneaky merchant had displayed Monster Cards as well. Percy had been window shopping for a while when he walked through the shopping alley, but he rarely saw as many Monster Cards displayed as Erdwin had. ¡°Is Erdwin actually a big shot?¡± Percy asked in silence as he moved through the shop until he found what he was looking for. The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. A spatial ring. ¡°I¡¯d recommend you to purchase a spatial pouch or one of those bracelets if you want some decent pocket space for your first spatial device, lad. Spatial rings might be of greater quality and are more stable than other storage devices, but you cannot store much in them,¡± An unfamiliar voice rang out beside Percy. His head flicked left, and he saw a middle-aged man, the shop owner, smiling at him. ¡°So, spatial rings have a smaller pocket space, but they¡¯re more expensive than the spatial pouches and bracelets. Why is that?¡± The merchant smiled and pointed at the nearest pouches. Some of them were clearly used. The leather from one was on the verge of tearing apart, while the runic enchantments on the remaining used pouches were dimmer than the runic enchantments on the spatial rings. ¡°Runic pouches are known to be unstable. No matter what runic enchantment you engrave on a pouch, you will wear it out with every use of the enchantment. Pouches made of high quality last a little longer, but you shouldn¡¯t expect a spatial pouch to last longer than half a cycle. Their runic enchantments are always active, draining the pouch¡¯s durability slowly but steadily.¡± He pointed at the bracelets and shrugged, ¡°Runic bracelets are solid and very stable. That is if you can engrave a runic enchantment on its surface. Runic bracelets are difficult to enchant because most bracelets have to look aesthetically pleasing as well. It would be easier to weld a large metal plate around your arm and engrave a few runic enchantments on it, but nobody would purchase something like that. No. Let me take that back. Some Adventurers would purchase such runic plates, but the demand is too little to increase the supply.¡± ¡°Last but not least, rings can be enchanted more easily. They¡¯re solid and in one piece, which makes everything a little bit easier. The only issue with spatial rings is that they¡¯re too stable to contain large pocket dimensions. Runic rings require stability. The instant the stability within runic rings is lost, they will shatter. Therefore, it is commonly known that runic rings with large pocket spaces are forged by the greatest artisans using the most valuable materials.¡± Percy nodded slowly. ¡°That¡¯s why they¡¯re more expensive.¡± He picked one of the spatial rings while smiling at the merchant. ¡°Do you have some high-quality rings which have not yet been enchanted?¡± Percy asked, noticing the merchant¡¯s expression too late, ¡°I¡­eh¡­I want to gift this ring to someone, but she is not Gifted. So¡­¡± The merchant raised his hands and waved dismissively, ¡°Calm down, lad. There is no need to explain anything to me. I have various promise rings to sell. As for the small spatial ring. It will be a valuable purchase if you don¡¯t need large pocket dimensions to store much. The ring will last decades before it starts deteriorating.¡± Percy smiled and spent another thirty minutes with the merchant before he left the shop, one gold coin and 50 silver poorer. The instant he stepped out of the shop, he used [Consume] on Prosperity while checking the interfaces of his newest purchases. Spatial Ring(Lesser) Average Quality 7019 Prosperity [Pocket Dimension], [Expanded Space], [Protect], [Mana Storage] The spatial ring was priced at one gold coin, but Percy purchased it for 80 silver coins after negotiating for a while. He made sure the shop owner would give him a nice price for the set of rings he¡¯d purchased. The remaining 70 silver coins were spent on the three other rings he¡¯d purchased. The first ring was an ordinary ring made from Silvron. It looked beautiful with its calmingly silvery tone but had the worst energy conductivity among the rings he¡¯d purchased. But that was fine. Percy bought it as an experiment. Still, Percy checked the Lesser Spatial Ring¡¯s interface before paying attention to the unenchanted rings. I¡­cannot upgrade the Pocket Dimension. There is a red tinge mixed into the silverish-golden hue. Does that mean I ¡®could¡¯ theoretically upgrade it, but the spatial ring would shatter from the instability? Is that also why a red tinge is in the [Expanded Space] runic enchantment? Theoretically, I could unseal the runic enchantment and engrave it on the ring, but it would shatter. That is good to know. Interestingly enough, Percy could add the [Protect] enchantment to the Lesser Spatial Ring, but he was unwilling to waste his precious Prosperity to play around. He did not have many Prosperity points left and probably had to use them on the three unenchanted rings. If one of them had one or multiple nice enchantments. Maybe even a larger Pocket Dimension enchantment? That would be great. ¡°Let¡¯s see what magic I can cast with my Ego!¡± B2 Chapter 28 - Runic Rings The spatial ring was already at its limit and couldn¡¯t be Ego-enhanced without destroying it, but the unenchanted rings told different stories. The Interfaces were interesting to look at. Silvron Ring Good Quality 785 Prosperity [Protect], [Enhanced Senses] The Silvron Ring had been the cheapest among the trio of unenchanted rings, but the runic enchantments were interesting, to say the least. If the runic enchantments are cheap, there shouldn¡¯t be a problem with profiteering from selling the Silvron Ring as an Artifact. Let¡¯s test the other stuff first, though. Yvelton Ring Good Quality 1040 Prosperity [Guardian], [Energy Shield], [Danger Sense] The Yvelton Ring had also been cheap compared to the last ring¡¯s price, but its¡¯ runic enchantments attracted Percy¡¯s attention. [Energy Shield] might be an upgraded version of [Protect] or even the [Guard] enchantment of the arm guards. [Guardian]...I don¡¯t know. It feels like you can summon some sort of protection ¨C maybe some sort of spirit ¨C with a runic enchantment like this, but is that even possible? My remaining Prosperity points don¡¯t seem to be enough to engrave [Guardian] onto the Yvelton Ring either. No, in the first place, it doesn¡¯t seem like the Yvelton Ring¡¯s quality is high enough to remain stable, even if I had enough Prosperity points to engrave it. [Danger Sense] was also interesting, but Percy didn¡¯t think of it as different from [Enhanced Senses]. Both were interesting runic enchantments, but they didn¡¯t hold a candle to the protection enchantments or [Guardian]. The runic enchantments he could engrave on the unenchanted rings were nice and would earn him some profit, but his attention lingered on the Magicum Ring. It was the most expensive unenchanted ring in the small shop and cost Percy 50 silver. The price was way too high for an ordinary ring, which was also why Percy had been willing to pay for it. The ring wasn¡¯t normal. It wasn¡¯t an Artifact, but Magicum Ore was rare and known for its high mana conductivity once properly refined. If the purity content of the refined Magicum Ingot was high enough, it could draw the surrounding energy closer. That was what the Magicum Ring could do, though only faintly, indicating decent work. Even non-Gifted civilians could purchase the ring and draw mana closer to them, possibly increasing their chances of gaining access to mana. At least, that was what the legends rumored, according to the shop owner. Percy didn¡¯t trust the shop owner¡¯s words, but he was curious about the enchantments he could apply to the Magicum Ring. Magicum Ring Good Quality 3546 Prosperity [Spatial Space], [Food Creation], [Mana Accumulus], [Accelerus] Percy didn¡¯t have enough Prosperity to unseal any of the four runic enchantments, but that didn¡¯t matter. His Ego showed him roughly how much Prosperity he lacked to unlock any of the runic enchantments. To think Spatial Space is the cheapest. That¡¯s a surprise. And what is this about [Food Creation]? I didn¡¯t know something like that existed. That would be perfect for me. I won¡¯t ever have to pay for food with that runic enchantment. That is¡­if I can create whatever food I want, which is probably not possible. [Food Creation] can probably only create something simple, right? Percy tilted his head while he kept moving through the shopping alley. Even though it was still early in the morning ¨C it hadn¡¯t been two hours since dawn ¨C but the alleys were already filled with bustling civilians. Percy would have minded being around so many people if not for his interest in the remaining runic enchantments of the Magicum Ring. Mana Accumulus sounds like a proper version of Magicum Ingot¡¯s natural effect. It probably augments the natural effect and draws more mana closer. That should be very useful for¡­everyone trying to train their mana control. It might as well work on Egos. [Accelerus], on the other hand¡­doesn¡¯t indicate anything. Could that be about the Gifted legend? [Accelerus] requires the most Prosperity to awaken, and the red touch around the symbol of [Mana Accumulus] is a red cloud engulfing [Accelerus]. The Magicum Ring¡¯s quality should be close to Perfect if I want to test [Accelerus] in the future. Not that I plan to do that anytime soon. Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings. [Spatial Space] was the only runic enchantment Percy was interested in, for now. However, he lacked some Prosperity points to engrave it onto the Magicum Ring. Fortunately, Percy could solve that easily. He disappeared in a restaurant, where he went to the toilet right away. Percy¡¯s hands reached for the gold pouch, and he retrieved three gold coins, which disappeared in his hands as the abomination of his Ego burst through his palm. Greedy bastard! Percy cursed softly before using [Consume] on Prosperity again. [Three Gold Coins have been consumed. 33,000 Prosperity has been added.] [Magicum Ring¡¯s spatial affinity has been enhanced. 100,000 Prosperity has been deducted.] [Spatial Affinity reached a threshold. [Spatial Space] is overflowing with Prosperity. [Spatial Space] will be interwoven into the essence of the Magicum Ring.] Mana Streaks formed in the air before Percy and engraved into the Magicum Ring, but since he was already familiar with the Ego-enchanting process, his attention pulled away from the magnificent scenery unfolding before him¡­in a small toilet stall. He put the lesser spatial ring on and channeled mana into the runic enchantment before closing his eyes. The space is small but cozy. It should have been enough to last me for a short while, but it should be better now that I have an even better spatial ring. His attention drifted back to the magicum ring which he put on once the enchantment had been engraved. He closed his eyes again and channeled mana into the self-made spatial ring. The result was as pleasant as expected. A pocket dimension the size of a tiny room, probably five cubic meters big, unfolded before his mind''s eye. It was empty, but not for long. Percy stored his money in the spatial ring to check if he could access his property inside a pocket dimension with his Ego. That didn¡¯t work, which didn¡¯t surprise Percy. Anything too far from his reach couldn¡¯t be perceived by his Ego, which included objects in a different dimension. Five cubic meters is nice. That will last me for a while. Percy nodded in satisfaction, happy how cheap it had been to create such a large spatial ring. The Artifact was worth paying nine gold coins and some silver converted into Prosperity points, but that was a cheap exchange. The price of spatial rings increased exponentially with the pocket dimension¡¯s size, after all! Should I sell it and do it all over again? Maybe later if I need some quick bucks. I still have enough gold to do everything I need. He still had more than 20,000 Prosperity points left to use as well. That being said, Percy retrieved the Silvron Ring and the Yvelton Ring to transform them into Artifacts as well. [Silvron Ring¡¯s mana conductivity has been enhanced. 5,000 Prosperity has been deducted.] [Mana conductivity reached its limit. [Enhanced Senses] is overflowing with Prosperity. [Enhanced Senses] will be interwoven into the essence of the Silvron Ring.] [Yvelton Ring¡¯s durability and magical resistance have been enhanced. 15,000 Prosperity has been deducted.] [Durability and Magical Resistance reached their limits. [Energy Shield] is overflowing with Prosperity. [Energy Shield] will be interwoven into the essence of the Yvelton Ring.] Percy was left with almost no Prosperity after transforming the two unenchanted objects into runic rings, but that was fine. [Enhanced Senses] had been rather cheap, given how effective it could be for training sessions and hunts in the Wilderness. Gifted could use [Enhanced Senses] to train their mana sense. After all, being able to sense the surrounding mana was also accounted for when it came to [Enhanced Senses]. The effect wasn¡¯t too potent, but Percy was confident about the demand for the Silvron Ring Artifact. Even if wealthy families wouldn¡¯t bother buying it for a few dozen silvers or a gold coin, a bunch of Adventurers would certainly be happy fighting against monsters with enhanced senses. He put the Silvron Ring aside, put the Yvelton Ring Artifact on, and channeled enough energy into [Energy Shield] to manifest it. A greenish-translucent shield conjured before Percy. It was roughly the size of Percy¡¯s chest, but that wasn¡¯t out of the ordinary. Percy tensed up, shifted his feet, and twisted his body before punching the shield before him with as much power as he could muster in the toilet stall. The collision was loud, and the shield cracked, but it didn¡¯t collapse right away. ¡°That¡¯s good enough,¡± Percy nodded slowly. He was already at the Peak of the Elite Tier, given the power his Augmentations granted him, and his Tier was also high. That being said, his punch was fierce and powerful enough to rival the charge of a River Boar. Blocking the charge of a River Boar was a great feat. [Energy Shield] was a powerful runic enchantment for any Gifted and certainly worth a small fortune. I can sell the pair of rings, keep the spatial rings, and¡­pick up my clothes now. Percy was interrupted when he heard someone enter the toilets. ¡°I apologize for intruding, but we were informed you haven¡¯t ordered anything yet. If you wish to buy something, you can stay, but we would prefer if you leave if you do not wish to order anything, sir.¡± The last words were forced, however, Percy couldn¡¯t care less. He opened the stall after the runic rings disappeared in his spatial storages and stepped outside. Instead of talking to the restaurant staff, Percy walked by and left. The gazes lingering on him didn¡¯t bother him, even if it may look different from an outsider¡¯s point of view. They saw Percy leave swiftly and disappear among the bustling civilians. How much can I ask for these rings? They should be worth quite a bit. If I ask them to give me a price, I have to trust they don¡¯t lie to me. Percy walked around searching for the best shop, the more luxurious the shop looked the better. However, it didn¡¯t take long before Percy was reminded of the clothes he wore. ¡°Right. I should change first. The more I look like a noble, the fewer reputable merchants will try to pull a fast one on me. My eyes will handle the rest,¡± Percy mumbled, though he was unsure how to feel about his train of thought and the plans he¡¯d devised. B2 Chapter 29 - Clothes Wealthy merchants should know enough about the purity of eyes and the theories revolving around that topic to tell that Percy wasn¡¯t one of their average customers. Adding high-class clothes from a master tailor should be enough to convince anyone of his heritage. Even if I have no clue who I am, who says I cannot fool others into thinking of me as one of those pampered noble brats? Percy winced softly and returned to the master tailor, who emerged from the back of the room when he stepped inside. The master tailor swallowed hard, his eyes trained on Percy¡¯s eyes, but he didn¡¯t say anything. He said something into the back of the room, and a young woman carrying several sets of clothes emerged shortly. She glanced in Percy¡¯s direction for a moment but evaded eye contact when he turned to her. I am not that scary, am I? He shrugged lightly and looked at the clothes, frowning faintly. Nobles wear something like that in the capital? For real? ¡°Can you give me a short¡­introduction¡­about those clothes? I doubt nobles were those exotic outfits on a casual stroll through the city.¡± Percy was having a hard time keeping his tongue in check. He had a lot to say about the clothes before him but hoped the master tailor would solve his worries. The master tailor had to suppress a scoff before he pointed at the first piece of clothing. ¡°This is a tunic. Noblemen often wear long tunics that reach down until their knees or lower. I adjusted them to fit perfectly to your sizes, sir. But please be careful. The tunic is made from dark-sea velvet and silverhorn sheep wool. I sincerely hope you do not mind the embroidery on the tunic¡¯s chest. I thought it would suit you. You can wear the tunic at all times, but I recommend not to wear them for battle. The fabric is valuable even if it doesn¡¯t offer much protection.¡± The tunic was still one of the least exotic pieces of clothing. It had wide and flowing sleeves and was belted at the waist, offering enough space to attach his potion satchel and sword sheath. If he organized the space well it shouldn¡¯t be a problem to add two dagger sheaths to the tunic¡¯s back. What enchantments can I add to you? You look like you¡¯re of Excellent Quality or higher! Percy nearly licked his lips but suppressed the urge as the master tailor continued. ¡°This is a cloak. You can wear it over the tunic like any other cloak. I decided to give you a cloak instead of a cape which you can fasten at the shoulders with a jeweled brooch or a pin because you do not look like a man who adores capes and brooches. The cloaks are more practical. They offer you more warmth since I used the fur of a Pyraih Demon. They¡¯re pesky creatures with near-perfect control of Medi flames. Their fur is fire resistant and offers great protection both in warm and cold environments. If it¡¯s too warm, the Pyraih fur will consume traces of the surrounding warmth, which it can store and distribute when you feel cold. It is a very useful cloak and looks nice, doesn¡¯t it?¡± The tailor master was trying to be more friendly, which Percy welcomed with a polite nod. ¡°The hose, which is what we call tight-fitting trousers are also made of silverhorn sheep woolf, but after it has been refined several times. The refinement process is also why the hose is brighter than the tunic, creating a subtle contrast. As long as you maintain your clothes well, you won¡¯t have an issue attracting the attention of noble women, let alone non-Gifted and beautiful merchant daughters,¡± He winked at Percy, who had to suppress a frown. Percy couldn¡¯t care less about women. ¡°Or young noblemen. I don¡¯t judge anyone for their desires,¡± The tailor quickly added when he sensed the hint of dissatisfaction in Percy¡¯s eyes. But it wasn¡¯t like he cared about men either. His interest in love was dangerously close to zero at this moment. Percy had more than enough burden to carry with his own issues. He wouldn¡¯t dare to drag anyone into this mess. Maybe in the future¡­but not now. The master tailor cleared his throat and pointed at the last piece of clothing from the first set. Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. ¡°Pointed shoes made of the finest leather you can find in the capital. Again, I embroidered something thinking you would like it. I hope I didn¡¯t go too far. If you do not like it, I will replace the tunic and shoes right away.¡± The embroidery wasn¡¯t anything special. It was an azure-blue claw. Percy didn¡¯t dislike it, but he couldn¡¯t help but stare at the embroidery for a few seconds. It was very detailed, resembling the claws of an Archyeas. Just that it wasn¡¯t a purplish-black claw but that the entire claw was azure-blue, just like Percy¡¯s eyes. Only now did Percy notice that the tunic wasn¡¯t dark, close to black, but that it was more of a dark blue tone mixed with the silverhorn sheep wool, which was pristine white. The tailor was about to say more and move to the other sets of clothes, however, Percy interrupted him. ¡°I can wear this set in the open, right?¡± The tailor hesitated for a moment but nodded. ¡°People will recognize my clothes because I¡¯m the only one using this specific pattern and fabric for the hose and tunic, but there shouldn¡¯t be an issue with that. But I¡¯d recommend you not go on strolls like this. Nobles do not go on ¡®strolls¡¯, and they certainly don¡¯t walk through narrow alleys wearing clothes like this. You do not have to listen to me, sir, but I would be a little bit careful. The capital is well protected but there are still powerful Gifted you do not wish to provoke openly.¡± Percy waved his hand and pointed at the clothes. ¡°Thanks for the advice. How much do I owe you?¡± He asked while reaching for the clothes. ¡°I was surprised to find out you didn¡¯t lie about your connection with the duke. Please don¡¯t glare at me like this in my humble abode. I had to ensure you weren¡¯t lying. If I didn¡¯t do that, anyone could come into my shop and declare their relation to the king or their friendship with the duke¡¯s daughter,¡± The tailor cleared his throat, ¡°Either way, I verified your claim, which means you will be given a discount for your first purchase. That leaves you with exactly two gold coins to pay.¡± Percy squinted his eyes and stared at the tailor the more words spurted out of him, and relaxed only when he knew everything was fine. However, the price for a few sets of clothes surprised him. ¡°Two gold coins?¡± Percy asked to which the tailor responded with a serious nod. ¡°That¡¯s after the discount. The first purchase is always heavily discounted, especially from a high-class vouch like the duke.¡± The master tailor smiled at Percy like he was generous like a saint, but Percy cursed in his mind. Nonetheless, he retrieved two gold coins from his spatial ring, which he handed to the tailor master. A dozen interfaces popped up before him, easing his worries. The numbers displayed on the interfaces calmed his nerves. Percy stored the other sets of clothes with a wave of mana. His mana washed through the room with great precision, enveloping the clothes which were then stored in the magicum spatial ring a moment later. ¡°Can I change my clothes somewhere?¡± Percy asked, and the tailor pointed to a small room on the right. He grasped the clothes and shoes and left for the stall, where he disappeared for a few minutes. When he reappeared, Percy looked like a different man. The master tailor and his assistant stared at him for a few seconds. ¡°Not too shabby,¡± The tailor mumbled, looking for something underneath the table while the young woman blushed. It doesn¡¯t feel too uncomfortable. Still, this is not something I can use to fight well. I should have bought some leather armor earlier. He snickered in his mind, but glancing at the interfaces of his new clothes was oddly calming. [Ocean Velvet Tunic ¨C Marvelous Quality ¨C 3611 Prosperity] [Pyraih Cloak ¨C Perfect Quality ¨C 5983 Prosperity] [Refined Silverhorn Sheep Hose ¨C Marvelous Quality ¨C 2928 Prosperity] [Nobleman Shoes ¡ª Marvelous Quality ¨C 1932 Prosperity] The Prosperity points he could earn from consuming everything he¡¯d purchased in the master tailor¡¯s shop amounted to more than he paid. Percy couldn¡¯t remember the last time something like that happened. In fact, he was certain his Ego would never offer him a better price than 50% to 75% of the coins he paid to purchase something. The tailor didn¡¯t joke about the discount. Did he give me everything for half the price? Doesn¡¯t that mean these clothes would usually cost four gold coins in total? That¡¯s crazy! Despite thinking like that, Percy smiled. He was about to say something when the master tailor approached him with a silver hair clip with a dark blue, almost black, dragon attached to its back. ¡°Pull your hair back. You can see more that way,¡± The master tailor said before looking deep into his azure eyes for the first time. ¡°Or are you afraid to show your eyes to the world, sir?¡± Percy cracked a smile at that and accepted the hair clip. ¡°Of course not. My eyes aren¡¯t a secret, and they never will!¡± B2 Chapter 30 - Merchant Office Today was a really long day. It was still early in the morning, but so much had already happened. Still, Percy felt great. He was in a better mood than he had been for the last few months, knowing he could do whatever he wanted. Basically, at least. Percy entered a shop near the tailor, purchasing a small knife to trim his beard. There wasn¡¯t much of a beard yet, but the stubbles on his face greatly contrast the well-kept image he wanted to maintain. It was time to make his move and to act like a noble. *** Percy¡¯s long strides came to a halt in front of a large building. He didn¡¯t know the material used to build it, but the structure was impressive. Instead of high-quality wood or refined cobblestone, pristine white bricks garnished the building walls. They exuded traces of mana and isolated the interior well. He tried peeking through the large glass windows, which were probably taller than Percy but failed to see anything. It was the same glass used in Raewood¡¯s Guildhall. Percy shrugged and approached the heavy wooden doors and licked his lips in anticipation as his eyes landed on the sign hanging down from above. [Merchant Office] The Merchant Office wasn¡¯t a simple place. On the contrary, it was an organization created by the king to control the merchants in the city and regulate the amount of power they could hold at once. Percy cared little about the intentions behind the founding of the Merchant Office but was glad it existed, nonetheless. The Merchant Office made lots of things easier for him. He approached the heavy wooden doors, shoved them open with a light push, and headed straight to one of the five counters unfolding before him. Percy didn¡¯t look around, avoiding looking too much like an excited child, and fixed his bound-back hair to distract his mind until he reached one of the staff. There was no queue waiting for Percy, which was his fortune. After all, his confident gait to the nearest counter attracted some attention. The staff¡¯s eyes lingered on him, and Percy could have sworn to see someone in the corner of his eyes blush when he smiled vibrantly at the staff member before him. The young man stared at him for a few seconds until he recalled his job. He cleared his throat in a hurry and hinted at a bow. ¡°Welcome to the Merchant Office. How may I be of your help, sir?¡± Percy retrieved his Bronze Adventurer Badge ¨C he should have upgraded it to a silver badge ¨C and placed it alongside several gold coins on the counter. ¡°I would like to lease a shop in a prime or secondary position,¡± Percy explained, to which the young man responded with a subtle nod. After retrieving a small, black slate, he reached for the Bronze Adventurer Badge and pressed the badge against it. Percy sensed something stirring inside the slate, and it didn¡¯t take long before his information popped up. Silver lines streaked across the slate, informing the staff members about everything Percy had mentioned when he registered as an adventurer. The young man read the information before his eyes trailed to Percy. He looked back and forth, only to put the slate down with a sigh. ¡°I¡­am not sure what to make of this information. Your adventurer profile is not reliable enough to trust you with a shop lease of a primary or secondary location. The most we can offer to you is a place near the outskirts¡­sir¡­¡± The young man studied Percy¡¯s expression and froze when he looked into his eyes. The azure eyes of the young man standing opposite him lingered calmly on him. ¡°Is the Adventurer Badge not enough to identify myself? I don¡¯t lack money either. Why am I not allowed to lease a shop in a better location?¡± Percy inquired. I should have upgraded the Adventurer Badge. A shop on the outskirts of the capital is not good enough. I need enough exposure to attract wealthy customers. ¡°I-I apologize. The information noted on the Adventurer Badge may be enough to identify yourself, but it doesn¡¯t offer enough credit for the Merchant Office to lease you one of the shops in the primary or secondary locations in the capital. The Merchant Office is known for its quality and thorough research. If you have something else to ¨C...¡± The young man flinched when Percy¡¯s azure eyes bore into him. It felt like Percy stared into his soul. A soft hand landed on the staff¡¯s shoulders. It was a middle-aged woman wearing the same formal attire as the rest of the staff. However, her clothes were made of more luxurious material and adorned with several brooches. ¡°Is there a problem, Steffen?¡± She asked, her natural ferocious expression instilling fear in the young man¡¯s eyes. This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. ¡°T-there is no problem, Miss Calaer!¡± Steffen responded quickly, but the woman, Miss Calaer, wasn¡¯t interested in him anymore. Her attention lingered on Percy. She studied him from head to toe. ¡°How can I help you?¡± Miss Calaer asked, her eyes locked onto his, a trace of confusion replacing her ferociousness for a quarter of a second. ¡°I Would like to lease a shop in a good position, but it seems like the Bronze Adventurer Badge is only good enough to get me a spot on the capital''s outskirts,¡± Percy responded flatly. Miss Calaer took Steffen''s black slate and read through it. Her eyes flicked from the slate to Percy and back several times in a few seconds, and she sighed. ¡°I see where the problem is, sir.¡± She used ¡®sir¡¯ for the first time, surprising Percy a little. He was certain Miss Calaer had seen through his sham. ¡°The Adventurer Badge, with the information noted on it, doesn¡¯t provide enough credibility to lease a shop in our prime locations. My subordinate is right about that,¡± Miss Calaer said, but the corner of her lips tilted upward, which looked devious in Percy¡¯s opinion, as she added, ¡°But that doesn¡¯t mean you cannot reveal your real information. As long as you show the Merchant Office your worth, I can upgrade your credibility.¡± I guess none of this would be a problem if I had a merchant license. An Adventurer Badge is probably not worth as much to the Merchant Office as a proper license. Percy nodded slowly, realizing some of his mistakes. He stopped concealing his mana, stepped back, and released it into the surroundings in one massive burst. The color in Steffen¡¯s face was drained instantly, and his legs gave in, but Miss Calaer didn¡¯t make a move to help. She looked at Percy, smiling in satisfaction. ¡°You are about to reach the Peak of the Elite Tier. That is good¡­very good for someone at your age. You should update your Adventurer Badge soon. The silver badge offers a lot more benefits than the bronze one.¡± Miss Calaer praised, but Percy wasn¡¯t done yet. He summoned the Coin of Prosperity¡¯s symbol in one hand and the two Monster Cards ¨C not the Monsters ¨C in his other hand. ¡°That was expected. You didn¡¯t have to show this to us, sir.¡± Miss Calaer tried retaining her composure, but her eyes lingered on the Monster Cards and the long texts written on them. What was expected? That I have an Ego? So, she actually believes I am a noble. Perfect! ¡°Is that enough, or do you have to see more?¡± Percy asked in an annoyed tone, trying to replicate the attitude of the noble children he had encountered in the Wintermoon estate. ¡°No, no. There is no need for more, sir. This is more than enough!¡± Miss Calaer responded in a hurry, hinting at a bow before she proceeded to retrieve a stash of paper. ¡°We have many options for you, sir. Some of them will surely be of interest to you!¡± *** Percy left the Merchant Office with a piece of paper and a hole in his coin pouch. The paper was an official contract, a lease of a small building that was only a few streets away from the Guild and the shopping alley but still close enough to be reached within a few minutes. The building was big enough for Percy, but the cost greatly surprised him. Six gold coins a month to lease a building and start a business in a secondary location. No wonder everyone is saying that the rich are getting richer while the poor stay poor. This is a fraud! Percy was still far away from being poor, but the cost surprised him. If he decided to invest a little into renovating the shop, which was hopefully not necessary, Percy would have to pay even more gold. He wasn¡¯t willing to do that if it could be avoided. That being said, Percy searched for his shop. He walked around the capital, scanning every location, especially the stalls from the nearby Blacksmiths, Alchemists, and Engravers, but he didn¡¯t find many stalls of interest. Percy was willing to invest heavily in the shop, knowing it could transform into a golden goose if he exploited his powers. But Percy needed better connections for that. He reached the building and was pleasantly surprised to find a proper shop waiting for him. It was a little dirty, and the furniture was covered in dust, but dirt and dust were probably Percy¡¯s least worries. There aren¡¯t many people in the street, but this looks like a slightly cheaper place to purchase decent stuff. I saw enough Adventurers looking for weapons and potions around here. There weren¡¯t many Elite Gifted among them, but Mortal Gifted might be much better. Should I start with¡­No, probably not. I need one or two expensive Artifacts to ¡®highlight¡¯ my shop and attract customers and some lesser objects for most Customers¡­ The wide windows at the entrance of the shop were perfect for displaying some goods. It was also easier to break in by shattering the glass, but Percy was not yet worried about thieves. He would enhance the glass windows and the door with his Ego once he earned enough to consider staying in this place. He wasn¡¯t willing to invest heavily into the shop, only to leave everything behind if nothing were to work in his favor. Percy put the thoughts of burglars aside for a moment and considered his options well. All the while, he rummaged through the building, only to find everything he needed to live properly on the second floor. Either I hire a bodyguard to protect my shop and pay him extra for the living space on the second floor, or I¡¯m going to be my shop¡¯s bodyguard and live here. But staying in the royal forest was pretty nice¡­ Percy chuckled at this thought. He was actually considering giving up such a nice living space in exchange for a forest. I should stay here for a while. The forest is not running away from me. I can always return if everything around me feels like too much to handle! At last, Percy found a great place to start his career as a merchant and a living place to spend the night. What else could he wish for? B2 Chapter 31 - Thus, Debts & Smithy Apparently, there was a lot to wish for. Percy didn¡¯t own any furniture other than the one found downstairs. The shelves on the first floor were intact, and the shop was ready to be opened at any time, given he¡¯d procure enough goods to upgrade and sell. However, that shouldn¡¯t be an issue. Still, before doing anything else, Percy went to a nearby housing shop where he could purchase furniture like wardrobes, beds, and the like. He spent two silver coins for his purchases in the housing shop, returned to the building he¡¯d leased, and placed everything neatly. There was no need to decorate the living space on the second floor. Percy had been in the wilderness for the last few months. Having a bed was already much better than anything he¡¯d owned. He glanced at the bed ¨C it was a simple bed for one person ¨C and considered collapsing on it for the sake of it, but the day was not yet over. Percy left the shop to look for a shop to create a sign for his shop. That wasn¡¯t difficult either. The street his shop was in could be considered an inferior version of the capital¡¯s shopping alley, meaning he could find almost everything he needed. A dark wood plank, some paint, a brush, and the tools to attach the sign at his shop. Although Percy wasn¡¯t the best at typography, he considered the task done¡ªfairly well executed as well¡ªwhen he finished the last brush stroke. Is that name a little bit over the top, or will it be okay to choose this name? Miss Calaer didn¡¯t reject the name when I put it down, but it¡¯s not like she would have said anything, even if I wrote ¡®Dragon Poop¡¯ as my business name. He shrugged, his eyes glued to the shop sign. [Dragon Lair] Dragons are known for hoarding gold and everything of value. That being said, Percy''s powers were also closely tied to valuables. The shop was supposed to be his dragon lair, amassing a fortune for him to use. That was how he chose the name, even if it sounded a little bit over the top. He shrugged his doubts off, replaced the broken shop sign with the new one, and returned to two interesting places he¡¯d found on his strolls through the capital. The first location was near the outskirts of the capital. Percy had been roaming around, trying to understand how it had been possible to plan and build such a humongous city, when he arrived near a half-broken smithy where a hulking giant ¨C reminding him of Dave the Silver rank Adventurer from Raewood ¨C hammered on a piece of iron. The hulking giant wasn¡¯t old. He didn¡¯t look in his 30s yet, but his work wasn¡¯t too bad. He mainly used iron to forge almost everything. Percy ignored the biting heat as he entered the building, where countless products were displayed. The variety was enormous, but they all had one thing in common. They were all made of either iron or Teranit ¨C a mortal grade material. But the choice of material did not interest Percy at first. He was more interested in the shocking amount of detail with which the hulking giant worked. He was covered in muscles from head to toe but could distribute the amount of force applied to his forging hammer perfectly. That was how he created weapons, utensils, and similar objects, including the average rings and accessories of the highest quality using iron. Percy was certain that the worst products in the shop were of Excellent Quality, while the rest were either Marvelous or Perfect. That was exactly what Percy had been looking for. ¡°Is there a problem, mate?¡± The clinking of metal had died down when the blacksmith noticed Percy. He turned to him and frowned deeply after he studied him from head to toe, ¡°If you¡¯re another one of these idiots, you better leave. I will pay the interest in two days. I¡¯m just finishing the last pieces for the deal.¡± Percy tilted his head briefly but quickly realized what was happening. He thinks I¡¯m his creditor. Is that it? His lips were already parted to respond and clear the misunderstanding when a group of thugs ¨C that was the best description Percy offered, given their appearance and presence ¨C entered the half-broken smithy. ¡°Bert, it¡¯s payment time! Our boss wants his money back. Every. Single. Coin!¡± One of the thugs bellowed, unsheathing a small dagger from his waist. This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. The hulking giant, Bert, glanced at Percy in confusion, trying to understand what was happening, but turned to the dagger-wielding man. ¡°The contract says I have two more years to repay the money. Don¡¯t you and your boss want the interest?¡± Bert tried to reason, but the thug wasn¡¯t having it. ¡°Either you give us the money back now, or we¡¯ll take everything and return for the remaining money in a week!¡± Bert gasped and grasped his forging hammer even tighter, ¡°You can¡¯t do that!¡± ¡°Why not? Everything in here, even this disgusting little smithy, has been paid for by our boss. It doesn¡¯t belong to you either way. Not until you¡¯ve paid your debt, at least.¡± Percy¡¯s eyes drifted left and right as he analyzed the situation, and he nodded slowly, sensing an opportunity unfolding before him. Is mother fortune finally on my side? That¡¯s perfect! Bert was tense enough to ignore his sore muscles from working long hours, the numerical disadvantage, and Percy. The thugs had noticed him, but they paid more heed to Bert, realizing the blacksmith was about to do something. ¡°How much do you owe them?¡± Percy asked Bert into the tension. The blacksmith didn¡¯t hear him at first, but he turned to him when a tiny flash whisked past his head, where it exploded, transforming into a small cloud of snow and ice. The thugs turned to Percy, their eyes widened in surprise, and so did Bert. ¡°How much do you owe them?¡± Percy repeated the question. Bert¡¯s lips parted, but no word came out. He was too surprised about what had just happened. ¡°He owes the boss two gold coins. If you include the interest, it is two gold coins and 32 silver!¡± The thug announced. Percy turned to the thug, ¡°Do you have the contract and a seal to complete the transaction, or did you come here unprepared, ready to throw a fit at someone who is trying his hardest to make a living in the capital?¡± The dagger-wielding thug didn¡¯t say anything, but the others took a step forward, their heads red like fresh tomatoes. ¡°We can go to the Merchant Office as well,¡± Percy shrugged, retrieving a small pouch filled with gold, ¡°I will pay the money he owes your boss.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Bert and the thugs echoed simultaneously. ¡°Why would you do that?¡± Bert asked, to which Percy responded with a bright smile. ¡°I like your work. How about you work for me? Of course, selling your products to me would be fine, too, but I would much rather hire you directly. I will pay you well and treat you better than those idiots,¡± Percy pointed at the huffing and puffing thugs. ¡°I don¡¯t know you. I have never seen you before. Why would I work for you? No, this is far more important. Why would you pay so much money for me?¡± Percy chuckled, ¡°I think you¡¯re worth it. Your work is excellent, and as you should know, a blacksmith¡¯s passion for his work shows much more about his personality than the ordinary can tell. I can tell you¡¯re a good guy doing everything he can to make it big. Unfortunately, you met the wrong guys.¡± Again, he pointed at the thugs. Percy looked at them again. ¡°Either way, do you have a seal, or are we going to the Merchant Office?¡± *** ¡°I¡­don¡¯t know what to say. You actually paid off my loan. We don¡¯t know each other, but you¡¯re paying this much to help me out. Why? Do you want to push me to sign another loan with an even worse interest rate? I don¡¯t think that¡¯s possible. Their interest was already one of the worst,¡± Bert kicked the ground as they left the Merchant Office. At the end of the day, Percy paid for Bert¡¯s debt without buying anything¡­yet. ¡°I told you why I did it earlier, and I can tell you again. Though I doubt that¡¯s needed. I want to hire you, and I¡¯d much rather have a diligent blacksmith without debts working for me¨C... That was your only debt, right?¡± Percy asked, expecting the worst, but Bert just nodded. ¡°I needed money to rent a smithy to start working with. That worked fine at first, but things went downhill quickly. Not many non-Gifted are willing to purchase armaments from my shop, and the gifted in the capital are usually either rich enough to purchase a proper Artifact or look for weapons of better quality.¡± Percy interrupted Bert, ¡°You mean material.¡± ¡°What?¡± Bert tilted his head. ¡°You mean. Customers buy weapons made of better material. I doubt anyone in the city can create as many forged products from iron at such a high quality as I¡¯ve seen in your shop.¡± Bert was at a loss of words. In his hometown, the townspeople praised him a lot for his blacksmithing skills. However, since he arrived at the capital, only a handful of people looked at his goods. Of course, the location of his smithy wasn¡¯t great. It wasn¡¯t even close to the artisan¡¯s grounds, but still. More than enough people bustled through the streets of his smithy, but almost no one cared enough to enter. And those who checked his stuff usually left in dissatisfaction. ¡°What do you think?¡± Percy asked ambitiously, ¡°Do you want to work for me? I¡¯ll treat you nicely!¡± B2 Chapter 32 - Hired Hiring Bert was less problematic than expected. However, Bert felt like he owed Percy a lot for paying his loan. ¡°Are you sure about that?¡± Bert asked with the contract in his trembling hands. Percy was willing to pay his lease, which totaled 50 silver coins a month, in addition to the material cost as a base fee. In addition, Percy would pay Bert a portion of the profit earned through the forged goods he provided. The portion was small, almost insignificant in most established blacksmith¡¯s eyes, but Percy would pay an engraver ¨C aka his Ego ¨C to transform Bert¡¯s products into Artifacts. Bert didn¡¯t say anything when Percy calculated how much money Bert could earn without carrying any risk. After all, everything else had already been paid for since Percy promised to pay three silver coins a month if his profit share didn¡¯t exceed that number. Percy doubted it would come to that, quite the contrary, but his words reassured Bert. ¡°Of course,¡± Percy responded with a smile. ¡°You think I¡¯ll be earning more than ten silver coins a month like that? How can you be so certain of that? My products are not that great¡­¡± Bert murmured, but Percy slapped on his back. He tried reaching Bert¡¯s shoulders, but they were too high. ¡°Everything you¡¯ve forged is good. It¡¯s perfect!¡± Percy¡¯s words reached Bert like a fierce hammer strike, ¡°I need those products. I need you!¡± He cleared his throat, a little embarrassed about what he¡¯d just said but added the next words nonetheless, ¡°If everything works according to plan, I will provide you with better materials and tools. This smithy is rather shabby, and I would prefer to move you to another location where you can work with the tools I¡¯ll provide. There will be Artifacts among the tools. That being said, focus on work like you did before I arrived, and I will take care of the rest. I¡¯ll make sure we are going to be rich and known in the capital if that¡¯s what you want.¡± Percy didn¡¯t care about fame, but it would certainly help his shop. If he had to move out of his comfort zone to earn a fortune, so be it. ¡°Rich, you say¡­¡± Bert murmured before shaking his head, ¡°But before that. Let me repay you. I don¡¯t need much to survive. Three silver coins a month are already more than enough. Keep the rest until I¡¯ve repaid you!¡± Why is that guy so adamant about this? He is a nice guy. So be it. Percy shrugged but nodded after a few seconds, ¡°If that¡¯s what you want.¡± Bert smiled and rushed to the door. He turned the ¡®Open¡¯ sign and closed the shop before turning to the shelves and piles of goods he¡¯d forged in the last few weeks. Weeks in which almost no one came to purchase anything. ¡°Without any goods to sell, I don¡¯t need to stay open, right?¡± He kept smiling, ¡°Do you have a carriage or something to bring the goods to your shop?¡± Percy raised his hand, revealing the two spatial rings. Bert¡¯s smile widened, and he gestured to Percy to take everything. That was exactly what he did. He approached the piles and shelves of goods with a bright smile, which widened into a vibrant smile as the Ego recognized everything as his property. Finally, he got a better look at the armaments and accessories. [Iron Ring ¨C Marvelous Quality - 101 Prosperity] [Iron Ring ¨C Perfect Quality ¨C 151 Prosperity] [Iron Dagger ¨C Perfect Quality ¨C 293 Prosperity] [Iron Sword ¨C Marvelous Quality ¨C 319 Prosperity] Iron Earring ¨C Excellent Quality ¨C 99 Prosperity] ¡­ ¡­ The Perfect Iron Daggers are worth almost six times more than the Iron Dagger I had in Raewood. That¡¯s crazy! Even though those things are only made of iron, they¡¯re so valuable already. How many items are there? There are almost 50 items, with the lowest quality being one earring with Excellent Quality. That¡¯s insane! Percy was having a hard time controlling his emotions. He licked his lips and fetched another gold coin from his pouch. ¡°Buy enough material to keep forging. I don¡¯t know how fast everything will be sold out, but I think you can start buying more expensive materials. It would be best if you learn how to forge similar items with Silvron, Tiagro, or Yvelton Ingots. There is no need to look at me like that. You can keep going with Iron Ingots, but I think you want to improve as a Blacksmith, don¡¯t you? Improving means to emerge from your comfort zone to learn new things. You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version. That being said, take that money, forge some items with Iron, and get started with higher-quality materials. If you fail, so be it. Don¡¯t be afraid of failures, and try to learn from them. Take every failure as a lecture to improve. I don¡¯t mind even if your products made from more expensive materials turn out below average at first. All I hope for is that you keep going.¡± Tears twinkled in Bert¡¯s eyes as he listened to Percy¡¯s words. That made him uncomfortable, but he patted Bert again before telling him where his shop was located. If he needed anything, whether it was money or some advice, he could come to him and ask. ¡°Thank you.¡± That was all Bert could say before the dam broke and tears started flowing down his cheeks. Percy left the smithy after patting Bert a few more times. Transforming everything into decent Artifacts shouldn¡¯t cost more than a few hundred Prosperity. There shouldn¡¯t be an issue with adding [Sharpness] to the Iron Daggers like it had been with the average quality dagger now that I have multiple marvelous and perfect quality daggers. The enchantment won¡¯t be perfect, but as long as I sell it cheaply enough, there shouldn¡¯t be a problem. ¡°Young lad. Are you in need of love? I can sell you love in a bottle!¡± A crackling voice rang out to his right, but Percy didn¡¯t think too much about it. There were many stalls in the outer streets of the capital, and most of them were known for taking advantage of others. To put it simply, they were frauds. Many, at least. ¡°Kiddo, don¡¯t like you cannot hear me!¡± The same voice called out. This time, Percy looked left and right, but there was nobody. He realized the woman was talking to him and could have ignored her, but curiosity got the better of him. Percy turned around, sighing, ¡°Please don¡¯t bo¨C...¡± He stopped mid-sentence when his eyes fell on an elderly woman. The woman had piercing emerald eyes and a crooked nose and looked oddly bright and spry for someone her age. A Gifted. A powerful one at that. What is someone like her doing in this place¡­selling potions? Percy¡¯s eyes landed on the potions. There were many, some even with unique signs like [Love Potion]. However, Percy was more interested in the other potions. ¡°Why are you selling potions this cheap? What¡¯s the problem with these potions?¡± Percy was certain there had to be a problem with the potions, given how cheap she sold them. Every potion cost at most a third of the original price. Most Mortal potions were even cheaper. ¡°You¡¯re pretty straightforward, lad. I like that!¡± The elderly woman smiled, ¡°The potions are cheap because they¡¯re made from cheap materials. It¡¯s as simple as that. They work, but the potions are not as potent. That doesn¡¯t mean they¡¯re bad. The only problem is that some potions induce food poisoning and other illnesses. That¡¯s troublesome if sold to an active Adventurer, don¡¯t you think so?¡± Percy''s eyes narrowed to tiny slits. He retrieved a silver coin from his spatial storage, flicked it to the elderly woman, and picked three different potions. [Healing Potion ¨C Poisoned/Average Quality ¨C 105 Prosperity] [Stamina Potion ¨C Illness-inducing/Average Quality ¨C 85 Prosperity] [Mana Potion ¨C Average Quality ¨C 94 Prosperity] They¡¯re cheaper than my Ego suggested. Even if I buy all of them, I would make a profit by allowing my Ego to consume them. That would be a great advantage. Especially with the Illness-inducing and Poisoned potions. I can Ego-enhance the remaining potions and sell them for ten times the price I¡¯ve paid. But is that all I can do? He didn¡¯t believe the potions could be salvaged and used [Consume] on his Ego while inspecting the Health and Stamina Potion. Healing Potion ¨C Poisoned Average Quality Potency: Ordinary ?? [Food Poisoning], [Health Boost], [Healing Surge] ¨C Stamina Potion ¨C Illness-inducing Average Quality Potency: Ordinary ? [Purple Blood], [Mild Stamina Boost], [Rapid Stamina Recovery] The result wasn¡¯t actually disappointing since he could immediately tell what was wrong with either of the potions. They had special properties, which was rather problematic. Food Poisoning was rather simple. It might not affect a Gifted at his Tier, but Percy couldn¡¯t sell something like that in his shop. As for [Purple Blood], it was dangerous if too much of it entered his bloodstream. Even powerful Gifted would have issues resisting [Purple Blood] if too much of it accumulated in their bloodstream. It was dangerous and should never enter someone¡¯s bloodstream. That was problematic, but his Ego provided solutions to problems Percy didn¡¯t even know he had. Several silverish-golden threads connected to both [Purple Blood] and [Food Poisoning], probably to strengthen their effects. However, there was also a crimson red thread. Can I remove these properties with my Ego? Will that consume my Prosperity, or will it add Prosperity? Percy was unsure, but he was willing to test it out. He licked his lips and looked the elderly woman straight into her eyes. ¡°How many potions do you have? I want to buy everything!¡± B2 Chapter 33 - Getting Started The elderly woman took his coins without hesitation, but she eyed him with great curiosity. ¡°Why would someone from your status purchase these potions after everything I have told you?¡± ¡°My status?¡± Percy snickered and added with a shrug, ¡°It shouldn¡¯t matter to you for what purpose I purchase your potions. I¡¯m paying the price. That completes the transaction.¡± He stared deep into the vibrant emerald eyes of the elderly woman, ¡°If you want to know why, how about you start telling me who you are? I don¡¯t think Gifted Ones with vibrant emerald eyes are common, even in the capital. Do you want me to¨C...¡± The elderly woman raised her hands, ¡°There is no need to do anything.¡± ¡°You are no fun, kiddo,¡± She sneered. ¡°I never tried to be funny.¡± The elderly lady¡¯s tongue clicked in displeasure, but she handed Percy all the potions. He paid for everything and ignored the displeasure in the elderly lady¡¯s eyes as he turned around. ¡°I¡¯m Percy, and my shop is two streets ahead. It¡¯s called Dragon Lair. I¡¯d like to purchase more potions from you, but I won¡¯t answer any personal questions if you keep your identity hidden. I think that¡¯s fair.¡± Percy didn¡¯t wait for the elderly woman¡¯s response and walked off. He returned to his little shop and walked past the shopping area to reach the staircase to the second floor. As he ascended the flight of stairs, Percy retrieved one of the poisoned potions and used [Consume] on Prosperity. Healing Potion ¨C Poisoned Average Quality Potency: Ordinary ?? [Food Poisoning], [Health Boost], [Healing Surge] He licked his lips and reached for the crimson thread connected to [Food Poisoning] with his mental power, and¡­nothing happened. Nothing happened for the first few seconds. Percy reached the top of the staircase and stopped in his tracks to search for changes, but there was nothing. Until his hands cracked and the abomination, in its slimmest form, burst out of his palm. The abomination surged toward the potion¡¯s cap, squeezing through it to reach the viscous, red shimmering liquid. The abomination engulfed the liquid and consumed the harmful substances within them. Percy could instinctively sense what his Ego was doing and smiled. It devoured the [Food Poisoning] property without leaving anything behind. [Healing Potion¡¯s [Food Poisoning] has been detected and consumed.] [42 Prosperity has been added.] ¡°Nice!¡± Percy exclaimed as the notification popped up. He could not only remove harmful prosperities, but instead of consuming Prosperity points, he received them. That was much better than expected, urging Percy to repeat the process with all Illness-inducing and poisoned potions. He licked his lips in excitement, accessed his magical spatial ring, and retrieved everything he¡¯d acquired from today¡¯s ¡®hunt.¡¯ First, Percy removed Bert¡¯s forged goods from the spatial ring to sort them in the living room. Since he had no furniture, the living room was big enough to spread everything out neatly. He separated the goods into several categories. First, he separated all weapons, accessories, and armor. Then he added a subcategory to split them according to their quality. This is so much better than expected. I love this! He exclaimed in his mind before doing the same with the potions he¡¯d procured. Most of the elderly woman¡¯s potions were Health, Stamina, and Mana Potions, but he acquired a few Regeneration Potions, Mana Boost Potions, and three Love Potions. Though, he wasn¡¯t sure how the latter worked. Maybe he wouldn¡¯t sell them to avoid future problems with the authorities. That was probably for the best. I am going to get rich soon! He snickered and started to get working. First, I should remove all harmful substances. [Healing Potion¡¯s [Food Poisoning] has been detected and consumed.] [42 Prosperity has been added.] [Stamina Potion¡¯s [Purple Blood] has been detected and consumed.] If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. [61 Prosperity has been added.] [Healing Potion¡¯s [Food Poisoning] has been detected and consumed.] [37 Prosperity has been added.] [Mana Potion¡¯s [Mana Poisoning] has been detected and consumed.] [58 Prosperity has been added.] ¡­ The sight of dozens of non¨Cpoisonous potions unfolded before him once his Ego consumed all harmful properties. It was a wonderful sight, but Percy wasn¡¯t done yet. On the contrary, he was just getting started. Removing the harmful properties was just the beginning of something great. The start of his little Dragon Lair emporium. With what should I start? Probably by increasing my Prosperity a little. He nodded slowly and made the next move. The abomination of his Ego emerged from his palm as he retrieved a few gold coins from his spatial ring. [Three Gold Coins have been consumed. 33,000 Prosperity has been added.] Percy approved the notification but checked his personal interface to see if everything was going as he¡¯d intended. ¡ºPercy ¡» [Ego ¨C Coin of Prosperity] [Tier] ¨C [Elite-8] ¡ª [Gnoll Warrior (Elite ¨C?) ¨C [Blade Mastery???],[A Hunter¡¯s Smell?], [Basic Strength Boost?], [Berserk ????]] [Blueflame Hawk (Elite ¨C ?) ¨C [Hawk Eyes ?] ¨C [Frostbite ????], [Basic Agility Boost ??], [Silent Reaper ?] ] ¡ºCoin of Prosperity¡» Prosperity: 37,362 ?Consume He nodded again and approached the forged iron armaments first. [Consume] was already used on Prosperity, allowing Percy to get started right away. He did that as he approached the first batch of items. [Iron Ring¡¯s mana conductivity has been enhanced and reached its limit. 350 Prosperity has been consumed.] [[Signal] is overflowing with Prosperity. [Signal] will be interwoven into the essence of the Iron Ring.] [Iron Ring¡¯s mana conductivity has been enhanced and reached its limit. 350 Prosperity has been consumed.] [[Signal] is overflowing with Prosperity. [Signal] will be interwoven into the essence of the Iron Ring.] Percy didn¡¯t know what kind of runic enchantment [Signal] was, but he followed his gut feeling and engraved it on a pair of rings. Finding out what [Signal] could do didn''t take long. Percy accessed the two Runic Rings and perceived different frequencies from them as he channeled mana into the enchantment. He summoned the Gnoll Warrior, gave him one of the runic rings to wear, and told him to go downstairs while channeling mana into the runic ring. Percy sensed the Gnoll Warrior through his connection with the Monster Card, but by focusing on the frequencies, he could also locate him. Percy called the Gnoll Warrior back and adjusted the frequencies to overlap. He closed his eyes and ordered the Gnoll Warrior to walk around with one of the runic rings in its claws. Percy temporarily severed his connection with the Monster Card but could still tell where the Gnoll Warrior was. The runic ring told him Hyean¡¯s exact position. ¡°That should be useful for Adventurers in fights or if they get lost. The rings, as long as their frequency is the same, will pull them together. Percy was satisfied with the expenses. The iron rings weren¡¯t expensive to create, and it was a fact that the enchantment wasn¡¯t anything special. However, that transformed them into valuable Artifacts from Percy¡¯s point of view. They were cheap to create with his Ego. However, the same couldn¡¯t be said about Engravers. They would have a much harder time engraving a runic enchantment like [Signal] on a mere iron ring. The time and effort to do so would be wasted on them. They would never waste their time like that. But Percy was different. He didn¡¯t spend any time engraving the runic enchantment. His Ego did all the work. All Percy did was to spend his Prosperity. He giggled and continued working. [Iron Dagger¡¯s sharpness has been enhanced and reached its limit. 400 Prosperity has been consumed.] [[Sharpness] is overflowing with Prosperity. [Sharpness] will be interwoven into the essence of the Iron Dagger.] [Iron Dagger¡¯s sharpness has been enhanced and reached its limit. 400 Prosperity has been consumed.] [[Sharpness] is overflowing with Prosperity. [Sharpness] will be interwoven into the essence of the Iron Dagger.] [Iron Dagger¡¯s sharpness has been enhanced and reached its limit. 700 Prosperity has been consumed.] [[Sharpness] is overflowing with Prosperity. [Sharpness] will be interwoven into the essence of the Iron Dagger.] The Perfect Quality dagger was much more expensive to enchant, but Percy was more than fine with that. If anything, he was happy about it. After all, the increased price indicated that he could engrave runic enchantments of higher potency on the Perfect Quality Iron Dagger! Percy found himself addicted to engraving the iron armaments that he consumed most of his Prosperity when he was done. He retrieved two more gold coins from his pouch, consumed them, and Ego-enhanced the potions of the elderly woman. He didn¡¯t unlock any new properties since that would be too expensive, but he focused on the potions¡¯ potency and existing properties. Ego-enhancing potions were something Percy had yet to do more actively, but it was very interesting. He would love to Ego-enhance more potions in the future. However, for now, Percy had to focus on earning more money rather than wasting his entire fortune on fooling around. But now that I think about it¡­what will I highlight as my shop¡¯s main attraction? B2 Chapter 34 - Fraud? Percy had two valuable runic rings to display as his main attractions. One Silvron Ring with [Enhanced Senses] and the Yvelton Ring with [Energy Shield]. The latter was more valuable and could probably be sold for a decent fortune. But even if they were valuable, an Elite Weapon Artifact was probably an even better attraction. He cast a glance at his Silvron Sword but shook his head. I¡¯m not going to sell my only weapon. If anything, I need to buy new weapons to equip the Gnoll Warrior. I need something else to display. Percy left the shop and searched for a more renowned smithy closer to the capital¡¯s core district, where he purchased a Tiagro Sword for 81 silver coins. He negotiated a little and only agreed to 81 silver when the blacksmith was about to throw him out. I will never buy anything from you again, okay?! Bert will surpass you easily, asshat! The blacksmith¡¯s attitude annoyed him, but his anger dissipated when he returned to the shop. It was time to create his main attraction. [Seven Gold Coins have been consumed. 77,000 Prosperity has been added.] [Tiagro Sword¡¯s mana conductivity has been enhanced. 75,000 Prosperity has been deducted.] [Mana Conductivity reached its limit. [Mana Slash] is overflowing with Prosperity. [Mana Slash] will be interwoven into the essence of the Tiagro Sword.] Percy inspected the weapon intently and sighed deeply. It might be nice that he did not have to pay as many Prosperity points to engrave [Mana Slash] into the Tiagro Sword like last time, but the potency disparity was as clear as day and night. Still, Percy was satisfied with the enchantment. In the first place, it was great that he could enchant [Mana Slash] on a Tiagro Sword of lower quality. I can sell this one for 25 gold coins, right? But wait. Now that I think about it again¡­Melissa and her father tricked me! They didn¡¯t pay me enough for the Tiagro Sword and the Yvelton Sword! A sigh escaped his lips. He knew the situation was different at that time and that the weapons didn¡¯t belong to him. Not truly, at least. He¡¯d plundered them from the battlefield in the Wintermoon Estate. Nonetheless, it was frustrating how quickly his funds decreased. It was almost like someone poked a hole into his wallet. I have 11 gold coins, a bunch of silver, and pouches filled with copper. That should last me two months if I don¡¯t earn anything. But I won¡¯t let it get that far. I won¡¯t fail to be a businessman! Percy fell deep in thought, trying to devise a few plans to make a fortune with the Dragon Lair shop, and started displaying the Artifacts, Ego-enhanced potions, and his main attraction. The Tiagro Sword, Yvelton Ring, and Silvron Ring were highlighted in the windows for everyone to see, whereas the rest were neatly placed on the shelves and stands. Percy was so deep in thought, busy with various thoughts flashing through his mind that he missed the entrance of a young woman who entered the Dragon Lair shop with two men. He turned to them only after their voices rang through the shop. ¡°What are we doing here? This shop has been closed for months,¡± One of the men grumbled, but the young woman pointed at the displayed goods as if that answered enough. ¡°Maybe the shop will open again soon¡­ I don¡¯t know,¡± He grumbled in response. They¡¯re Gifted, but weak ones. Either they haven¡¯t been out in the Wilderness often, or their affinity isn¡¯t high. Maybe they haven¡¯t found out their most suited affinity yet. But they sure look beaten up. The Gifted were clearly Adventurers, but they were covered in bruises and shallow cuts. Neither of the three Gifted was seriously injured if one excluded their equipment, of course. Their leather armor was torn in several places and was only attached to threads in some places. They didn¡¯t possess any Artifacts either. That attracted Percy¡¯s curiosity. ¡°Wilderness?¡± Percy asked calmly when the three Adventurers noticed him. The young woman nodded slowly but didn¡¯t say anything else. Bronze Rank Adventurers must be common in the capital. They look sleep-deprived and more or less skinny. I''m not as skinny as I¡¯ve been in the past, but that¡¯s not the point. Percy tilted his head. The Adventurers were probably struggling to earn enough to cover their living expenses while accumulating enough coins to repair their equipment, let alone upgrade it. ¡°Artifacts made from iron? That is possible?¡± The young woman exclaimed when her eyes locked onto the Iron Artifacts. If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. ¡°I don¡¯t think so. I mean, you can turn everything into Artifacts, but not all materials are stable enough to contain runic enchantments without breaking apart. Iron is too unstable, or so I¡¯ve heard. Nobody creates Iron Artifacts because the runic enchantments will break them apart from the inside after a few uses,¡± The skinny man next to the young woman explained before turning to Percy. He didn¡¯t doubt his intel. Instead, the skinny Gifted concluded that Percy was a fraud. Percy noticed the anger in the man¡¯s eyes and smiled lightly as he approached them. ¡°Iron is only stable enough to contain runic enchantments as long as it has been treated well. You have to refine it perfectly and push it to near-perfect quality to transform it into an Artifact. Of course, the material stability is important, but so is the choice of runic enchantment. You cannot engrave highly potent runic enchantments on Iron. Otherwise, the runic enchantment will destroy the material from the inside. That much is true,¡± He gave the skinny Gifted a thumbs up while retrieving one of the Iron Daggers with the [Sharpness] enchantment. ¡°Many runic enchantments can be engraved at different levels. The [Sharpness] enchantment on the Iron Dagger, for example, has been engraved with a much lower potency level as¡­this dagger,¡± Percy retrieved another dagger from the shelves with a smile. One of the Iron Daggers was of Perfect Quality, while the other one reached Marvelous Quality. Both had been enchanted with the same [Sharpness] enchantment, but the Perfect Quality dagger could handle more strain without sustaining any damage. Therefore, [Sharpness]¡¯s potency level on the perfect quality dagger was higher ¡°That¡¯s also why most Artifacts are expensive. Engravers cannot be bothered working on cheap materials because it is not worth the effort to engrave ¡®weaker¡¯ enchanting on them. Of course, enchantments of lower potency cost less mana to trigger and maintain, but Engravers do not care. Most of them care only about their wallets.¡± Percy shrugged while activating [Sharpness] on both Iron Daggers. Both daggers started humming simultaneously before a whitish-silver glow mantled them. One of the daggers glowed brighter than the other. He stopped inserting mana into the enchantments and handed them to the young woman. Her eyes were glued on the daggers when he showed them how his Artifacts worked and her hands started trembling when she grasped the daggers. ¡°Don¡¯t be shy and give it a try. The potency of the runic enchantments has been adjusted to perfection to avoid straining the weapon. You can use the runic enchantments hundreds of times, and you won¡¯t even notice a scratch on the daggers. As long as you don¡¯t fight River Boars or the like with a Mortal Artifact, but that much should be given. Oh and¡­I wouldn¡¯t try cutting through walls with the daggers, either. They don¡¯t have the right enchantment to do so,¡± Percy teased the group of Gifted, but they weren¡¯t listening. Their attention lingered on the iron daggers. The skinny Gifted observed his friend as she activated the [Sharpness] enchantment on both daggers until her mana ran out. He reached for one of the daggers while his other friend grasped the other one to drain his mana by activating [Sharpness] several times. The skinny Gifted¡¯s anger transformed into doubt, which was then replaced by curiosity. ¡°The perfect dagger is set to be sold for 25 silver coins. As Adventurers, you should know how cheap that is for an Artifact of this quality. Considering your equipment, you¡¯ll have to replace most,¡± Percy shrugged as he didn¡¯t want to force the Gifted to purchase anything, ¡°But you should know that Artifacts can not only help you out of tricky situations, but they¡¯re also invaluable to increase your combat prowess.¡± At the end of the day, Percy chose to multiply the cost of Ego-enhancing the Iron Artifacts by three to make some profit. Engraving [Sharpness] on the perfect dagger cost 700, which is why Percy had considered asking for 21 silver coins. But since the initial Prosperity points of the perfect Iron dagger had been close to 300 and he had other costs to cover, such as the building lease and Bert, Percy increased the price of the perfect dagger to 25 silver coins. That was still cheap compared to the Mortal Artifacts he¡¯d found in the capital¡¯s shops, but Percy was in no need to compare his prices to others. He didn¡¯t have a high demand yet and had to keep his price low to attract more attention. ¡°What if you¡¯re lying to us, and the Artifacts will shatter once we leave?¡± The skinny Gifted asked, but there was no confidence in his voice. On the contrary, he doubted his words. ¡°I told you to test the enchantments as much as you like. Feel the runic enchantments and tell me whether I am lying to you or not.¡± The daggers were still fine, not the slightest crack could be found around the runic enchantments, even after the three Gifted used up their mana reserves. The daggers were perfectly fine Artifacts. ¡°What do you say?¡± The woman asked the others, ¡°We have 50 silver saved up.¡± Her eyes glimmered, but the skinny Gifted remained silent, while the other shook his head. ¡°We can¡¯t.¡± He said, ¡°We¡¯re saving up for proper Artifacts. Did you forget about that?¡± ¡°But those are proper Artifacts!¡± She exclaimed, pointing at the daggers. ¡°They¡¯re weaker than the Artifacts we plan to buy, and you know that.¡± ¡°But they¡¯re also cheaper!¡± The girl was getting irritated, ¡°Our strength will increase with an Artifact like that. Don¡¯t be narrow-minded, and look at it my way, please! We can buy two Artifacts like this dagger if we use our savings today. With two Artifacts, it won¡¯t be a problem to hunt even stronger monsters than today, or we go back to hunting weaker monsters and eliminate more of them.¡± The skinny Gifted nodded slowly, ¡°Where else can we buy two Artifacts for 50 silver coins? Most Artifacts in the capital start at 70 silver, and their quality deteriorates quickly. Proper Artifacts with slowly deteriorating enchantment start at more than 120 silver coins. Their overall power is greater than the Iron Artifacts, but those Iron Artifacts can change everything for us¡­¡± Percy learned a lot from the Adventurers¡¯ exchange, and a faint smile crept up on his lips. He cleared his throat, pulling the Gifted¡¯s attention to him. ¡°How about we do this?¡± B2 Chapter 35 - Customer Flow It hadn¡¯t been long since Percy arrived in the capital, and it was only obvious that he lacked important information about various things. That included the prices of potions, Artifacts, and what exactly the prices indicated. Still, he was bewildered when he heard about deteriorating runic enchantments and Artifacts being sold for a small fortune. No matter how Percy looked at it, selling deteriorating Mortal Artifacts for several dozen silver could only be described as fraud. Because that was exactly what it was. Was Merchant Erdwin a nicer merchant? His prices might have been high in comparison to the other shops in Raewood, but his prices are incomparable with¡­anything in the capital. Percy felt bad about the way he had been thinking about Erdwin and decided to apologize to the merchant if their paths merged in the future. Or the capital is a stupid place for Adventurers. The demand for good equipment is too high compared to the supply, allowing merchants to increase their prices to a disgusting degree. Since Percy wasn¡¯t a saint, he considered increasing the prices of his goods. But not yet. The demand for Iron Artifacts and his other goods was incredibly low at this moment. That had to change first. He studied the trio of young Adventurers and smiled. ¡°How about we do this?¡± Percy asked while reaching out for a small shield. His arm was about to slip through the loops almost instinctively, but instead of wearing it on his own, Percy approached the bigger guy. The Adventurer didn¡¯t make a move and let Percy do his work. Only a few seconds passed before the Adventurer wore the shield, covering most of his arm. ¡°If you tell your friends about my shop, I am willing to give you this shield for 50 silvers with one of the marvelous daggers on the house,¡± Percy offered with a light smile. According to his calculation, the shield was worth 55 silver coins. That was three times the Prosperity points he had used to engrave [Impact Shield]. But that didn¡¯t mean the shield was only worth 55 silver coins. Given his little experience with other merchant shops and the intel the Adventurers provided, Percy realized the shield could be sold for more than one gold coin. Maybe even one gold coin and 50 silver. But Percy didn¡¯t care how valuable the Iron Shield Artifact was. He could easily create another shield like that. Thus, Percy chose ¡®exposure¡¯ as a payment method. It was a limited payment method, but it was also something Percy needed the most. ¡°Are you serious?¡± The girl exclaimed, but the taller Adventurer wearing the Iron Shield frowned. He studied Percy in doubt. ¡°Where is the hook? What do you want from us?¡± He asked while his skinnier buddy added, ¡°I doubt any legit merchant is willing to give us something this precious just like that.¡± Percy¡¯s smile widened. Their doubts were valid. ¡°I¡¯ve already told you what I want. Please tell other people about my shop. This is my first day in the capital as a business owner, and you are my first customers. I¡¯m willing to give you a nice offer, which will hopefully help you three to survive in the Wilderness while you share your experience about my shop and goods with others.¡± The taller Adventurer was about to respond, but Percy raised his hand to stop him. ¡°Most Merchants do not have to resort to such tactics, but I¡¯m new, and the competition is fierce. I won¡¯t force you to buy anything but I can promise you that you won¡¯t be able to purchase a Shield Artifact, with a Dagger Artifact on the house, for 50 silver. You said yourself that you cannot even buy deteriorating Artifacts for that little, yet here you have two proper Artifacts for cheap.¡± Of course, Artifacts made from Iron weren¡¯t as powerful as proper Artifacts made from other ¨C better ¨C material, but they were certainly on par, if not better, than the greatest mortal armaments. ¡°We¡¯ll take it!¡± The young woman exclaimed while reaching for their savings, ¡°And we will tell everyone about your shop! Your shop will be filled to the brim soon enough!!¡± Percy raised an eyebrow but nodded. He glanced at the others and wondered if they would stop the girl, but the guys didn¡¯t make a move. They looked at the iron shield and dagger and sighed deeply. Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. ¡°Here you go,¡± The girl said, emptying the pouch on the wooden counter, ¡°That should be¨C...¡± Percy picked up one silver and put it back into her hand, ¡°You gave me too much.¡± The interfaces popped up, but Percy dismissed them. He used his spatial ring and smiled as he stored the silver coins. ¡°Oh? We had 51 Silver saved up? Oopse,¡± The young Adventurer pocketed the silver and waved Percy goodbye, ¡°Wait for us. We will return soon!¡± Percy chuckled in response, his eyes trained on the Adventurers as they left the shop. ¡°The shield is great,¡± The taller Adventurer mumbled as a smile blossomed on his lips while his friends patted on his back, ¡°You¡¯ve been wanting to purchase a proper shield. Here you go!¡± The door closed behind the Adventurers, muffling their voices, but Percy¡¯s smile didn¡¯t cease. ¡°That wasn¡¯t too bad,¡± He nodded slowly, a tinge of pride taking root in his chest. He made a profit, hooked potential returnees, and hired some cheap advertisers in one move. That could be considered a success. *** The days after his first customers passed quickly and it was only now that he understood how much freetime one could have as the owner of a small business. Percy didn¡¯t waste his time in the shop and trained his mana control and the like in his freetime. He stayed in the shop most of the time because he had to close the shop whenever he left to do something, but that was fine. Training in the warehouse, which was empty since he had everything either displayed in the shop or safely stored in his storage ring, was pleasant. He was out of everyone¡¯s sight and could swing his sword without any care in the world. The storage transformed into his training room for mana and sword training and he rarely left it within his shop¡¯s opening hours. Since he¡¯d installed a bell at the entrance, Percy was always informed and ready to sell a few more Iron Artifacts and potions. The customer flow was still rather slow, but Percy noticed a distinctive improvement compared to the first day. First of all, the three Adventurers returned two days after their initial purchase to buy some potions and one more iron dagger with [Sharpness]. However, they weren¡¯t alone. They brought their friends. Their friends immediately noticed the trio¡¯s new equipment but didn¡¯t think too much about it. If anything, they made fun of their friends for being stupid enough to purchase Iron Artifacts. The trio was embarrassed at first, but it was replaced by pride and excitement after their first day of hunting in the Wilderness. They completed three guild missions when they usually only completed one and earned almost six times more coins than normally. That was more than enough evidence to tell that the trio did the right thing. After all, their Iron Artifacts were still undamaged. The trio continued earning more coins, and two of them also ranked up once. It didn¡¯t surprise Percy when they greeted him nicely. Even the grumpiest and most suspicious among the trio was now overly nice to him. The trio and their friends used their savings to purchase as many potions and Artifacts from Percy, but they weren¡¯t his only customers. Percy repeated the same discount tactic he¡¯d used with the trio two more times. That was enough to pull some Adventurers with deeper pockets into his shop. One of them purchased the Silvron Ring with [Enhanced Senses] for two gold coins and returned with a tip of 10 silver coins two days later. Apparently, the Adventurer survived a battle with a Dusk Bear the day after he purchased the Silvron Ring. He was certain [Enhanced Senses] saved his life. Percy didn¡¯t reject the tip, but he also told the Adventurer to share his experience with the Dragon Lair shop. The Adventurer promised to tell everyone about the shop, which was probably how more Elite Adventurers with even deeper pockets came to check it out. The Elite Adventurers checked the Iron Artifacts but were a little disappointed. The Artifacts were good enough for Gifted with small wallets, but the only interesting products for Elite Gifted were the Tiagro Sword Artifact and the Yvelton Ring. Yet, that was already enough to keep the Elite Adventurers interested. ¡°You should adjust your prices,¡± One of the Elite Adventurers said, ¡°Some merchants are already looking for ruffians to stir trouble. I don¡¯t think you¡¯re in trouble just yet because you don¡¯t have that many customers, but your prices are like a declaration of war to them.¡± Percy had never seen the Adventurer, but he nodded slowly. ¡°Thank you for telling me¡­but why¨C...¡± ¡°You are wondering why I¡¯m telling you this, aren¡¯t you?¡± The Adventurer asked with a sly smile. He shrugged lightly. ¡°I like your prices. Your Artifacts are genuine and don¡¯t strain the material, which is usually reason enough to increase the price twofold. At least, that¡¯s what other merchants are doing. Yet, the price you¡¯re asking for doesn¡¯t change.¡± So, you are telling me to change my prices because¡­you like my prices? Well, and that mess with those merchants. But that should be fine. The Adventurer studied him with the same sly smile, pointed at the Yvelton ring, priced at eight gold coins, and smiled. ¡°And I¡¯d like to buy the Yvelton Ring for seven gold coins. Before you adjust your prices, of course.¡± B2 Chapter 36 - Demi Percy followed the Adventurer¡¯s advice and slowly increased the prices of his goods. He didn¡¯t go as far as to double the prices of the goods in his shop, but it was enough to notice. The trio of Adventurers and others noticed the changed prices but didn¡¯t say anything. Everyone living in the capital for a while had already predicted this move. They predicted Percy would increase the prices in his shop after a few weeks ¨C once enough potential customers heard about his items. Still, the price for his goods didn¡¯t increase as much as the young Adventurers had feared. The iron Artifacts were still the most cost-efficient to purchase. That was also why Percy was still worried about other merchants. I should be more careful if the Elite Adventurer didn¡¯t lie to me. I don¡¯t think they¡¯ll bother hiring powerful Gifted to thrash my shop, but that¡¯s not necessary in the first place. As long as the merchants hire ruffians to destroy my shop and steal from me, they will do it when I leave the shop. That¡¯s troublesome. The Adventurer might have mentioned that he had some time left before the merchants would make a move ¨C if they made a move ¨C but Percy wanted to be prepared for it. He visited the capital¡¯s Guildhall. The Guildhall was impressive, to say the least. It was a massive structure, even larger than the Wintermoon Estate, and probably cost even more to build, but Percy didn¡¯t have the nerve to inspect the building in awe. He approached the wooden counter with a smile and immediately got to the point. ¡°Good morning, I own a small business and would like to know what I am supposed to do when someone attacks my property.¡± The staff looked at Percy and sensed the mana coursing through him but didn¡¯t say anything at first. His lips parted, but instead of saying anything, the staff retrieved a few notes before answering. ¡°You are allowed to repel thieves and pin them down if you wish them to be interrogated;¡± The young man answered. ¡°Can I break their bones to make an example out of them?¡± All color left the staff¡¯s face when he realized that Percy was serious with his inquiry. He returned to the notes and nodded slowly. ¡°Y-you are not allowed to kill them as long as they do not enter your property, but you are allowed to pursue them to retrieve the items they¡¯ve stolen. As for breaking bones¡­that hasn¡¯t been clarified in my notes.¡± That¡¯s better than nothing, I guess. Percy shrugged nonchalantly. ¡°That¡¯s enough for me. I would like to hire some guards for my shop,¡± Percy jumped to the next topic, ¡°I heard the Guildhall here has a special service for Gifted who want to retain the adventurer benefits but don¡¯t want to return to the Wilderness.¡± It wasn¡¯t uncommon for wealthy merchants and nobles to hire Gifted. Percy saw dozens of guards in the Reeze estate and that did not even include the Glacia Knights. They belonged to different organizations. ¡°Of course, Sir,¡± The staff nodded in a hurry and asked, ¡°May I know your monthly budget and what you expect from the guards? We have many Gifted who should fit to your tas¨C...¡± The staff was interrupted when a young man with blond hair arrived next to Percy. He smiled at the staff, who cursed softly before retreating quickly. Percy caught the apologetic gaze from the young staff and turned slowly to the unknown man. The man had blond, almost golden hair, a short nose, and childish features. His eyes were green, but they weren¡¯t as vibrant as the crook-nosed alchemist¡¯s eyes. However, the most intriguing feature was the Gifted¡¯s ears. They were larger than the norm and covered in fur. ¡°I sincerely apologize for eavesdropping on you, but I couldn¡¯t help myself,¡± The Gifted said politely, peals of sweat trickling down his cheeks. We aren¡¯t Adventurers, but we are Gifted, and I can fight¡­¡± Percy was unsure what was going on, but he quickly noticed the eyes lingering on them. He turned around to see everyone staring at him, at the Gifted before him, like they were trouble. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. Percy¡¯s hair stood at its end, and his hand instinctively traveled to the Silvron Sword¡¯s handle. The Gifted shuddered and pulled back, his eyes widened in uncontrollable fear. Percy halted at that. Why is he so afraid? I¡¯m prepared to fend off the other Adventurers¡­not him. He took a deep breath and organized his thoughts. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about eavesdropping. My name is Percy,¡± He stretched out one hand to greet the young Gifted. ¡°I¡­I¡¯m Louis¡­¡± The young Gifted struggled to respond. He hesitated for a long time before lifting his hand to shake hands with Percy. Only now Percy realized that Louis didn¡¯t have normal hands. His hands were covered in fur, and his fingers were more like claws similar to the Gnoll Warrior¡¯s. ¡°I¡¯ve never met a Demi. Are there many Demis in the capital?¡± Percy asked with a smile, taking Louis by surprise. Percy looked straight into Louis¡¯ eyes and didn¡¯t show a sign of the same resentment and disgust Louis¡¯ had already gotten used to. There was not the slightest change in his attitude. That was even weirder than a surprised reaction. At least, that would have been normal. ¡°T-There aren¡¯t many Demis in the capital,¡± Louis gathered his courage in between a few deep breaths, ¡°Not since the king abolished slavery to free all innocent war slaves.¡± ¡°Innocent, he says,¡± Someone ridiculed in disgust, which Percy ignored. However, Louis flinched. Wasn¡¯t there something about a war with the Beastmen a decade ago or so? That kid must be a victim of the war. But why is he here? ¡°I think I understand where you¡¯re coming from. You¡¯re a war slave who regained freedom when the king abolished slavery. But what do you want from me?¡± Percy asked, even though he could tell where this was going. ¡°I want you to hire me.¡± Louis requested with as much courage as he could gather. ¡°Why do you want me to hire you? If i¡¯m not mistaken, Beastmen are physically stronger than humans. Shouldn¡¯t you have an easier time hunting in the WIlderness? There is no need for you to become a guard.¡± ¡°I need this job.¡± Louis declared dead serious. Percy was about to ask Why? when he heard a scream from the left. Percy¡¯s head flicked to the source of the voice, where he found a bulky man, an Elite Gifted, dragging a young girl that couldn¡¯t be older than ten cycles through the room. He pulled her hair mercilessly, ignoring her pained screams. The Adventurers in the Guildhall saw this, but nobody moved. Some looked around as if hoping someone else would intervene, yet not a single Adventurer moved. Percy¡¯s eyes narrowed to tiny slits, but he understood quickly what was happening. The young girl had long, silky blond hair that glimmered golden in the sunlight, bright green eyes filled with tears, and a short, snotty nose. But again, the most important feature was her fur-covered ears. Under normal circumstances, her ears would be covered by her full hair, but the Adventurer dragging her through the room by pulling her hair revealed everything. There was no mistake about it. She was Louis¡¯ younger sister. She bawled her eyes out, yet nobody came to her rescue. ¡°Sabrina!¡± Louis exclaimed, stepping forward to rescue his sister, but Percy was already on the move. He took one step at a time, while studying the bulky Adventurer intently. ¡°What are you looking at?! Do you want to fight?!¡± The Adventurer bellowed, but it was almost like Percy didn¡¯t hear him. He kept striding forward. ¡°Let her go. You¡¯re hurting her.¡± Percy said calmly as if showing emotions was a foreign concept to him. ¡°Her kind doesn¡¯t deserve to be alive! Someone like this cretin is better off dead!¡± The Adventurer shouted. The fury in his heart burned fiercely, but Percy could only pity the Adventurer for his stupidity. The distance between them narrowed until the Adventurer took the final step to tower before Percy. Percy was already well-built but he had a more athletic body rather than a mindless bulk of muscles. The Adventurer didn¡¯t seem to think much of Percy and laughed menacingly while looking down on Percy as if their face off was already over. ¡°You should start reading some books,¡± Percy¡¯s right hand snapped forward and coiled around the Adventurer¡¯s wrist. ¡°Is talking the only thing you can?¡± The Adventurer ridiculed Percy and laughed until a cracking noise reverberated through the Guildhall. The Adventurer released the little girl without realizing it as Percy used every fiber of strength within him to squeeze. The cracking noise was out of his expectations. ¡°Why is your wrist so fragile?¡± Percy cursed, releasing the Adventurer¡¯s broken wrist with a disgusted face, ¡°Weaklings like you should know when to keep their mouths shut.¡± He looked straight into the Adventurer¡¯s pain-distorted face, the corner of his lips tilting upward, ¡°You are an embarrassment for all members of the Guild. How about you leave before I consider breaking your nose?¡± Louis appeared next to Percy the moment the words left his lips. He circulated mana through his body and pounced on the bulky Adventurer. And punched him square in the face, breaking his nose in one go. B2 Chapter 37 - Boss? The bulky Adventurer stumbled backward and landed on the ground with a loud thud. A pained groan escaped his lips while streams of blood poured from his nose. Is it just me, or is that angsty kid much stronger than he looks? Percy glanced at Louis for a moment before his eyes fell upon the profusely bleeding Adventurer. ¡°Someone take him to a Healer,¡± He said lightly before turning to the counter. His eyes turned ice-cold as he asked, ¡°By abolishing slavery, the king returned the slaves¡¯ freedom, didn¡¯t he?¡± The staff member who¡¯d been talking to him earlier didn¡¯t dare to say anything. All he could do was nod subtly. ¡°That means this idiot violated the constitution, and nobody here did anything to stop him,¡± His voice grew in volume with every word, ¡°I sure hope you¡¯re going to write a report about this, or I will personally request an overhaul of this Guildhall.¡± Nobody knew who Percy was, but that wasn¡¯t necessary. He used [Frostbite] to conjure an icicle in his palm while staring at the Guildhall¡¯s staff, ¡°Or I will ask the duke. I don¡¯t really care which option you take, but I think reporting a violation of the constitution is easier, don¡¯t you think so?¡± The staff nodded in unison, but nobody moved. ¡°You can start with the report,¡± Percy growled, and the staff, startled, jumped into action. The silence that followed his commentary was deafening. Percy knew he made a mistake by openly attacking an Adventurer in the Guildhall, but he considered his reasoning valid. In the worst case, he would pay the Adventurer¡¯s medical fee, though Percy doubted it would get that far. His attention trailed away from the Adventurers, and he looked at the little girl crying in her brother¡¯s embrace. Louis consoled his sister and tried to calm her, but that was easier said than done. The fury burning in Louis¡¯ eyes certainly didn¡¯t help his sister. ¡°You look angry,¡± Percy pointed out the obvious, ¡°But you do realize this is partially your fault, right?¡± Louis¡¯ head flicked to Percy, the anger in his eyes still vivid. ¡°I don¡¯t mean to blame you. I¡¯m just telling you that it was a stupid idea to bring your sister to the Guildhall.¡± Louis was fully aware of the Adventurers¡¯ hostility toward Demis and Beastman. That much was obvious, given the way Lous had spoken to him earlier. The young Demi wasn¡¯t that stupid. So¡­why in the seven hells would he bring his little sister to such a dangerous place? Did he plan to traumatize his sister? ¡°Sabrina¡­isn¡¯t safe anywhere. Someone might find and hurt her if I¡¯m not there to protect her¡­¡± The fury in Louis¡¯ eyes was replaced with sadness and embarrassment, ¡°The Guildhall is the only place where I can earn money. Nobody else wanted to take us in¡­ We are monsters in their eyes¡­¡± Percy studied the siblings and sighed deeply when his eyes fell upon the uncontrollable sobbing girl. Leaving her alone in the capital while he was in the Wilderness was dangerous. First, Louis would need enough money to rent a room, and second, others might find out where they live and attack ¡®the monster¡¯ the moment Louis left for the Wilderness. Percy didn¡¯t want to think about such a possibility, but given the way the Adventurers looked at the Demis¡­it was possible. Besides that, Louis could bring his little sister to the Wilderness, but that was as stupid as dangerous. ¡°Yeah¡­you did a great job at protecting your sister¡­¡± Percy couldn¡¯t help but comment while looking at Sabrina. Louis had nothing to say about that. Percy sighed and put on a smile before ruffling through Louis¡¯ hair. The young Demi flinched but didn¡¯t pull back. ¡°By the way, that was a good punch there. That should be enough,¡± He commented, ¡°Come with me.¡± Louis wanted to ask, ¡®Where to?¡¯ but upon seeing Percy¡¯s gaze, Demi got up. He helped his sister, and they left the Guildhall. But not without Percy walking over to the counter, ¡°Sent a copy of the report to the Reeze Estate. If they ask why, just tell them that Melissa¡¯s friend with the azure eyes told you to do it.¡± He walked out, only to stop one last time in the doorframe. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. ¡°If the report isn¡¯t at the estate within the next three days, I will return with the Glacia Knights!¡± Percy left with a bright smile on his lips. He might have lied about the Glacia Knights or that he would find out if the report didn¡¯t reach the Reeze Estate in three days, but that didn¡¯t matter. Percy wanted to inflict fear, forcing the staff to report the incident without leaving out the slightest detail. The Demis observed Percy as they walked through the bustling streets. Sabrina had stopped crying and held her brother¡¯s hands for emotional support. Still, her eyes lingered on Percy, almost like she was trying to find out what he was. After all, he couldn¡¯t be a human. He was too nice to be human. I didn¡¯t plan to raise two children. I am way too young for that. He turned around to look at the Demis and cursed himself inwardly as they stared at him. Their eyes were big and full of trust. How could he leave them behind? He wasn¡¯t that cruel. ¡°How old are you?¡± Percy asked, trying to break the ice. ¡°I am 14 years old, and my sister, Sabrina, is two years younger. We are probably one of the last batch of war slaves, and it took the longest to free us. Most Demis are already settled or returned to the Beastlands,¡± Louis answered instantly, but he noticed too late that he said too much. " I can tell you more about us if you¡¯re curious¡­¡± Percy smiled but looked at Sabrina. She is already 12 years old? She doesn¡¯t look a day older than ten. Her body probably needs more nutrients to grow. That means lots of food. ¡°You¡¯re a Gifted with great physical strength. That¡¯s not an Ego, though, right?¡± Percy reached out for Louis¡¯ offer and asked more. ¡°Beastmen are stronger than humans, just like you said¡­Sir. I am Gifted, but I have yet to reach the Elite Tier,¡± He answered proudly, and Percy was impressed. The Elite Adventurer suffered a hefty blow. Louis was certainly strong. ¡°My sister is also Gifted,¡± Louis added hurriedly, ¡°She may be young, but she¡¯s smart and diligent!¡± Does he want me to hire her too? Did he think I would separate them? Percy shrugged inwardly but smiled at Sabrina. ¡°Is that so? Are you a diligent lady?¡± He asked, to which Sabrina responded with a hesitant nod. ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± They talked for a few minutes, and Percy learned quite a bit about the siblings until they reached the Merchant Office, which was their next destination. *** ¡°That was easier than expected,¡± Percy mumbled as they left the Merchant Office less than half an hour after they entered. ¡°Are you our boss now?¡± Louis asked, trying to figure out what had just happened. Sabrina pulled on her brother¡¯s clothes and whispered something in his ears. ¡°Oh¡­¡± He murmured, ¡°Oh!¡± Louis smiled at Percy, ¡°You¡¯re going to take care of us!¡± ¡°Slow down, will you?¡± Percy responded with a calming gesture, ¡°I did hire you and your sister, yes. I also promised to give you a place to sleep and other benefits. But that¡¯s the least I can do in return for your commitment to protecting the Dragon Lair!¡± The last words seemed to confuse Louis quite a bit. ¡°That¡¯s the name of my shop. Dragon Lair.¡± ¡°Oh, right.¡± He didn¡¯t strike me as a stupid bloke before. How did I not notice that? Percy accepted his fate and walked back to the shop with the siblings. He kept the shop closed for the day and led the Demis upstairs. ¡°This is where you two will sleep. I didn¡¯t get to purchase any furniture yet, but we can solve that issue in the next few days.¡± Initially, Percy didn¡¯t want to bring the siblings here, but this was the best place for both to stay. Percy was not in need of the rooms upstairs and could use the empty storage to sleep. He was there most of the time in the first place. Louis and Sabrina would be safe and sound, and Louis would always be with his sister even when he was working downstairs. Furthermore, Louis could protect the shop at night. He had an excellent hearing sense and would hear a break-in long before any thief or ruffian could destroy or steal anything. Percy fulfilled several plans by giving the siblings the place on the second floor, and he didn¡¯t have to worry about leaving whenever he wanted, either. After all, Sabrina could handle the customers after some initial training. She was only 12 years old, but her eyes glowed with determination to help her savior. That was great and all, but it didn¡¯t solve one particular problem. ¡°Adventurers are your main source of income, right?¡± Louis asked the obvious questions. ¡°What if everyone will leave you for hiring us?¡± Percy shrugged, ¡°I don¡¯t care. They would be stupid to ignore my precious goods, and I¡¯d rather not have any stupid customers.¡± Louis and Sabrina smiled. In the morning, their lives were a living hell. But now¡­Now, everything looked much brighter. Maybe everything was going to turn out fine. B2 Chapter 38 - Renovations Percy didn¡¯t know much about Beastmen and the war between the Kainesh Kingdom and the Beastlands, but he¡¯d heard that the king escorted the war slaves back to their homes if they wanted to return. That was also why one would rarely met pure-blooded Beastmen in the Kainesh Kingdom. Most Beastman accepted the offer to return to the Beastlands when the king ushered it. Sabrina and Louis, on the other hand, were too afraid of the Beastlands to move there. The siblings knew nobody would welcome them in the Beastlands because they didn¡¯t belong there either. After all, they were Demis rather than pure-blooded Beastmen. Beastman was the proper terminology for the residents of the Beastlands. They could transform into powerful beasts. However, Louis and Sabrina couldn¡¯t do that since their father wasn¡¯t a Beastman. Their father was human. Louis and Sabrina were half Beastmen, half human, and thus proper Demi-Humans. That was the worst for the siblings since both sides loathed them. The Beastmen¡¯s hatred toward humans was already bad, and it wasn¡¯t much better the other way around. However, an union between Beastman and Humans was considered even worse. It was the worst of the worst¡­and Louis and Sabrina were the result. The Beastman would probably kill Louis and Sabrina the moment they entered the Beastlands. Thus, the siblings never considered leaving even if their living conditions couldn¡¯t be considered excellent in the capital either. At least, the king ¨C knowing the children weren¡¯t at fault for their actions ¨C helped the Demis. ¡°Are you done with the door?¡± Percy asked Louis while finishing the list of furniture they had to purchase. The first thing Percy did on their way back was to purchase a heavy eveewood door, which was rumored to contain special properties, properties that allowed the door to be heavier when it was touched with ill intentions. Percy was not in need of the increased weight ¨C it was a nice characteristic but not what he was interested in ¨C but the ability to perceive someone¡¯s intentions had attracted his curiosity. ¡°Yes, Sir!¡± Louis responded, tapping the door to the Dragon Lair shop with a satisfied smile. Installing the door hadn¡¯t been a problem, and Percy could have done it as well, but he had been more focused on the wooden door¡¯s runic enchantments to split his attention. [Alarm], [Ward Danger], [Mark of the Thief] were the runic enchantments Percy could engrave on the eveewood door. The enchantments weren¡¯t all self-explanatory, but Percy was good at guessing. [Alarm] was obvious. The enchantment would trigger if someone with ill intentions entered. Maybe he could adjust [Alarm] and set it to specific times as well or increase and decrease the intensity depending on the time of the day. After all, his shop wouldn¡¯t be open at night. Therefore, [Alarm] could be at full sensitivity at night. But that was too vague. Percy didn¡¯t know enough about runic enchantments ¨C he should have started studying runic enchantments a long time ago ¨C to experiment with them. [Ward Danger] would probably trigger when someone with ill intentions tried entering the shop. The door would be too heavy for them to lift. At least, that was what Percy guessed. It wasn¡¯t suitable either. As for [Mark of the Thief], Percy was unsure. He could only guess that it would somehow mark everyone with ill intentions. He had no idea if he could sense the mark or, if he could sense it, how far the mark¡¯s range was. Percy had three interesting enchantments to pick from, and it took him a while to make a final decision. But at the end of the day, he went down the simplest path. He chose [Alarm] not only because it was the cheapest to engrave but also due to its simplicity. [Alarm] would warn everyone that someone with ill intentions was about to enter. It didn¡¯t restrain their entrance, but Louis would be there to care for them in case Percy was elsewhere. [Evee Wood¡¯s sensors have been enhanced. 1500 Prosperity has been consumed.] [Sensors reached their limit. [Alarm] is overflowing with Prosperity. [Alarm] will be interwoven into the essence of the Evee Wood.] Percy move on to Ego-enhance the glass windows, the hinges of the eveewood door and some other less important objects. However, he did not put any enchantments on them. Instead, he upgraded their Durability, Endurance, and some other characteristics that could be enhanced by focusing on the myriad of silverish-golden threads attached to them. Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original. He didn¡¯t have to invest more than 3,000 Prosperity points to enhance everything satisfactorily. Anyone wanting to break in would have to hire Gifted Ones. And not ordinary Gifted Ones, but professional Elite Gifted with expertise in silently breaking into a well-protected establishment. Nobody would expect the Dragon Lair shop to be such an establishment. After all, it was a small shop in a secondary position where cheap Iron Artifacts and only one or two Elite Artifacts could be purchased. Now that the security of his shop had been taken care of, they left to purchase some furniture and clothes for Louis and Sabrina. The siblings weren¡¯t comfortable with Percy buying so many things for them, but Percy was in a generous mood and told them not to worry about the expenses. It didn¡¯t take long to purchase the furniture needed to decorate the rooms on the second floor. Percy also purchased a small bed for the storage room where he¡¯d moved. He stored the bed in the spatial ring whenever he trained with the sword and retrieved it again when it was about time to sleep or train with mana. Several days passed in the blink of an eye. The rooms on the second floor looked passable now, and Sabrina warmed up to Percy. She wasn¡¯t a chatterbox but answered some simple questions when nodding or shaking her head wasn¡¯t enough. In the meantime, Louis was going crazy. He watched Percy when he worked out in the storage room, urging Louis to do the same. However, instead of training for a reasonable amount of time, Louis went above his limit, nearly tearing his tendons once. Percy knew Louis was a bit dense, but he started wondering if Sabrina was given the brain cells her brother lacked. She was the smart one, while Louis was the brawny guy. But maybe that was also why there hadn¡¯t been an incident in the Dragon Lair shop. Percy was a little worried about his customers ¨C especially the elderly Adventurers, who had fought Beastmen in the last war ¨C but there hadn¡¯t been any issues. That was a welcome surprise. It was already late afternoon, and Percy was about to close the shop for the night when he heard something from outside. ¡°He is so big!¡± Someone commented, attracting Percy¡¯s attention. The door to his shop opened, and a familiar hulking giant walked in. It was Bert! ¡°Oh hey, Bert. How have you been?¡± Percy greeted the blacksmith, who smiled from one ear to the other as he stepped inside with a heavy bag hurled over his back. The bag was wider than Bert and covered his entire back. ¡°I¡¯m doing perfectly fine. In fact, I don¡¯t know if I¡¯ve ever been better,¡± Bert responded, ¡°I didn¡¯t know when you would come again, so I decided to come over. I hope that¡¯s not a problem.¡± ¡°Of course, not. You¡¯re always welcome,¡± Percy smiled, his eyes trailing to the bag as Bert put it down. Louis stared at Bert with wide eyes and mumbled, ¡°Is he a bear?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t know Louis and Sabrina yet, right? They¡¯re my new hires. Louis over there is the shop¡¯s guard, and Sabrina is¡­whatever she wants to be.¡± Bert chuckled and introduced himself, ¡°I¡¯m Bert, a blacksmith in training.¡± ¡°In training?¡± Percy squinted his eyes, ¡°Your work is too good to be an apprentice. You should be more confident in your work!¡± He approached the bag of goods and retrieved some items. Bert forged more shields and other items that required more iron. Was he that close to bankruptcy? Most of Bert¡¯s products had been smaller daggers, armaments, and accessories, but that changed suddenly. The only reason Percy could think of was that Bert couldn¡¯t afford anymore iron ore before he received funds from Percy. That was depressive but also a great fortune. It was a great fortune because Bert had now enough funds to experiment and practice as he pleased. ¡°Amazing work,¡± Louis mumbled as he retrieved one of the iron longswords. He glanced at the handful of Iron Artifacts that were still left and compared them with the unenchanted iron armaments, ¡°This¡­¡± Percy noticed Louis¡¯ confusion and answered calmly, ¡°Yes, I engrave the runic enchantments. Bert produces the high-quality work while I do the enchantments.¡± Louis nodded absentmindedly while Sabrina studied the hulking giant of a blacksmith. Interestingly enough, she didn¡¯t seem scared and smiled faintly at Bert. ¡°Are you satisfied with the work?¡± Bert asked hesitantly. Since Percy entered his life, Bert was more motivated to improve his work. Percy valued his work and was willing to take him under his wing with heavy investments. That kind of motivation worked better than anything he¡¯d encountered. His work was more precise and several times more efficient, allowing him to create high-quality products in a much shorter timeframe. ¡°Satisfied? That sounds like an understatement. This is perfect!¡± Percy responded with a vibrant smile. This was much better than he had been hoping for! B2 Chapter 39 - Profit The first products made from Silvron entered his view underneath the iron armaments. He didn¡¯t recognize them initially but quickly noticed a few major differences between the iron and silvron armaments. They appeared similar but silvron was more milky. It wasn¡¯t a big difference, but that was mostly owed to the refinement method used to produce silvron ingots. Bert wasn¡¯t proficient at producing silvron just yet, and that was clearly notable. The milky tone will intensify as his work improves. That¡¯s fine. He is already doing a great job with the Average Quality goods. There are only a few silvron armaments at Low Quality and not a single piece of Trash Quality. His experience with iron armaments must have helped him. Percy hoped Bert¡¯s quality would improve in the following months, but he wasn¡¯t in a rush. If anything, Percy was hoping for Bert to focus on his foundation because his standard with iron armaments was already great. As long as Bert¡¯s proficiency with silvron and other similar materials improved to a higher level, they would earn a fortune. After all, the Iron Artifacts were already highly profitable. If all of Bert¡¯s products would generate as much profit, Percy would be over the moon. ¡°Oh?¡± Percy had been rummaging through the bag of armaments, handing Louis and Sabrina the goods to bring to the storage where he could Ego-enhance them when he noticed an anomaly. [Silvron Forging Hammer ¨C Average Quality (+) ¨C 956 Prosperity] Bert didn¡¯t forge many silvron armaments because the ore was still expensive compared to iron, and he didn¡¯t want to purchase too much silvron as long as he couldn¡¯t produce anything better than average armaments, but the forging hammer was his little masterpiece. It stuck out among the other armaments. Bert gasped when he saw Percy with the forging hammer, ¡°How did this end up in the bag?¡± His eyes traveled to Percy, a wave of guilt flickering in his eyes. ¡°I had to start my experiments with something, so¡­I made a forging hammer when I realized the refined hammer wasn¡¯t good enough to produce something decent. My first iron hammer shattered because I had to apply too much strength to it when I tried working with silvron and some other high-quality material. Even the refined iron hammers aren¡¯t good enough to properly work on silvron and the like.¡± Percy snickered, ¡°You don¡¯t have to explain anything to me. It¡¯s totally fine.¡± That''s interesting though. Bert didn''t know that the forging hammer was in the bag, yet the Ego considers it my property. Is that because the materials used to forge the hammer were paid with my gold? Or is it because everything Bert forges belongs to me according to the contract? It could also be both. He patted Bert¡¯s back since he was too small to reach the hulking giant¡¯s shoulders and kept smiling at the forging hammer. ¡°You should have come to me when the first iron hammer broke. I would have reimbursed you. Or even better, you should have come to me to ask for a better forging hammer the moment you realized it would be too difficult to work on silvron and other materials with an ordinary iron hammer.¡± Bert didn¡¯t know what to respond to that. He recalled Percy telling him to come to him if he ever needed something but didn¡¯t dare to do so. ¡°I was already wondering why you didn¡¯t come to ask for more money. It has been a while since you started experimenting. How much money do you have left?¡± Bert¡¯s lips parted, but they shut tightly a moment later. ¡°I take that as a I don¡¯t have any money left,¡± Percy mumbled, retrieving a pouch with five gold coins from his spatial ring. He then removed the lesser spatial ring and handed everything to Bert, ¡°The lesser spatial ring should fit on your pinky. Or you can wear it as a necklace. Either way should be fine.¡± This time, Bert couldn¡¯t remain silent. He had to say something and stop Percy. His boss was too generous for his own good. What if someone betrayed him and ran away with so many coins? However, before Bert could say anything, Percy lifted his hand. He stared intently at Bert and shook his head. ¡°There is no need for you to carry bags of armaments through the capital. Use the spatial ring, or I will feel bad whenever I see you carrying everything to my shop.¡± Percy chuckled as Bert¡¯s expression distorted. The hulking blacksmith wasn¡¯t sure what to think and how to feel at this point. Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site. ¡°I will work even harder, boss!!¡± Bert declared and received another pat on his back from Percy. ¡°As long as you don¡¯t overwork, that¡¯s fine.¡± He retrieved a few more gold coins from his pouch and did something many Egos and nobles would have advised him against. But Percy didn¡¯t care. His employees would find out about his Ego sooner or later either way. There was no need to hide it. He used [Consume] on the gold coins and then used it again, this time on Prosperity. [Four Gold Coins have been consumed. 44,000 Prosperity has been added.] Percy cast a glance at the silvron forging hammer and nodded subtly when he saw a familiar runic enchantment. It hadn¡¯t been too long since he read about useful enchantments for Blacksmiths, but he didn¡¯t expect to create an Artifact like that this soon. [Silvron Forging Hammer¡¯s Durability, Mana Conductivity, and Mana Veins have been enhanced. 30,000 Prosperity has been consumed. [[Echo] is overflowing with Prosperity. [Echo] will be interwoven into the essence of the Silvron Forging Hammer.] Percy studied his employees¡¯ expressions in glee as his Ego engraved [Echo] onto the silvron forging hammer. ¡°This enchantment will act like an echo, just like its name suggests. When triggered, it will release an echo of the force you apply when you hit something with the forging hammer. You might have a hard time using it precisely at first, but once you learn how to control the enchantment, you will have a much easier time at forging.¡± Bert didn¡¯t listen properly. He couldn¡¯t because he was having a hard time comprehending what had unfolded before him. ¡°Did you just engrave a runic enchantment on my forging hammer?¡± Bert asked after more than ten seconds of utter silence. ¡°Yep. [Echo], to be precise,¡± Percy answered calmly, ¡°But my Ego required the power it acquires from three gold coins to do so.¡± Bert paled at that, but Percy waved his hand off, only to feel someone tug his sleeve. Sabrina was beside him, staring at him with wide eyes. ¡°Do you have an Ego? An Ego that can transform money into power?¡± Percy¡¯s lips parted, but he didn¡¯t answer right away. She is not wrong. In my case, money is power. Not only in my case because there are way too many people whose fortune means power, but it¡¯s different in my case. ¡°You could say so,¡± Percy answered with a smile. Sabrina¡¯s eyes twinkled, ¡°That¡¯s cool.¡± Percy chuckled and nodded. ¡°Yes, it is.¡± *** After a few more questions, Bert left feeling even more guilty for accepting the spatial ring, several gold coins, and the forging hammer, which had cost a small fortune to engrave with a suitable runic enchantment. Percy wasn¡¯t too worried about Bert running away. Instead, the blacksmith¡¯s guilt worried him more. He wasn¡¯t a saint who gifted everything he had to others. Bert was one of his investments, probably the most valuable at that. Of course, he would heavily invest into Bert to push him further. Almost his entire fortune was earned through Bert¡¯s goods after they¡¯ve been Ego-enhanced. Louis and Sabrina asked a few more questions, but it was already late, and they¡¯d worked a lot throughout the day. They went to sleep soon after their curiosity had been satiated. Percy, on the other hand, was still busy. He organized the new products in the storage room and made a list of all products in the shop. He¡¯d already started with such a list, but it hadn¡¯t been detailed before. Percy changed that now that he had some experience with the customers and their purchase habits. He knew which runic enchantments were in higher demand and what kind of Iron Artifacts weren¡¯t sold at all. Percy updated the list using that knowledge and noted potential runic enchantments that he considered the most suitable to the specific armaments. After that, he went through his sales and calculated how much money he¡¯d invested and how much he earned in the last two weeks. I¡¯ve already earned back my investments and started making decent profits, even if we exclude the rings and Tiagro Sword purchased from another shop. Before Bert arrived with more goods, Percy had only five Iron Artifacts left. Even the Tiagro Sword with [Mana Slash] had been bought. Not a single potion was left other than the love potions which Percy hadn¡¯t displayed to sell The profits from the Iron Artifacts is at exactly 753 silver, the potions earned¡­129 silver and some copper change, the Yvelton Ring with [Energy Shield] profited roughly five gold coins and the [Enhanced Senses] ring earned a profit of 142 silver. That¡¯s great, but the Tiagro Sword earned the most. After all deductions, it netted me a profit of 15 gold coins. I expected Adventurers would hesitate a little longer before buying the Tiagro Sword, but I was mistaken about that. The Adventurer who had purchased the Tiagro Sword Artifact had been interested. He had been among the first wealthier Elite Gifted to enter his shop. Still, he waited several days, testing the Tiagro Sword¡¯s [Mana Slash] every day until he was certain the Tiagro Sword and enchantment weren¡¯t depreciating in quality to purchase it. I hope he¡¯ll return soon. Now that I have silvron armaments, I need wealthier Gifted in the Dragon Lair! Percy smiled from one ear to the other. All of his earlier investments had already been paid back in less than two weeks. That was better than expected, but Percy was just getting started. He had yet to stretch out his feelers and expand. It might take a little longer before the expansion starts, but Percy is excited about the future. B2 Chapter 40 - Trickery The profit he¡¯d raked was nice, but it felt even better to invest into his employees. Percy wasn¡¯t sure why he felt like that, but the sensation of supporting Bert and helping the siblings did something to him. It allowed him to give back the help he¡¯d received in Raewood and find a perfect balance to the bloody life he¡¯d lived after gaining access to mana. The peace of being in the capital, where he could train without getting bothered while also having the means to help someone, felt great. Percy had momentarily considered spreading the eggs of his fortune to nurture multiple smiths, or maybe some smiths and alchemists, but decided against it since Bert was the perfect target to start with. He was friendly, hard-working, and incredibly loyal. These characteristics were great and essential, but his talent was equally important. His first products made from silvron couldn¡¯t be considered exceptional from an experienced blacksmith¡¯s point of view, but for someone who had only experienced to forge with iron, the results were extraordinary! Bert deserved as much investment as needed to grow as a blacksmith. That was also why he had given Bert enough gold, a spatial ring, and the enchanted forging hammer. The investment would be returned as a big bag of gold coins soon enough. That was even more true now that Bert had brought a few goods made from Silvron. Percy could create his first Elite Artifacts! Though the first Elite Artifacts would be cheaper because the Low and Average Quality armaments would never be stable enough to contain two runic enchantments, Percy was happy. What would be the best enchantments to put on the Elite Artifacts? [Sharpness] is good, but it¡¯s nothing special. It will be cheap, though. Then again, [Lacerate] and [Bleeding] shouldn¡¯t cost much more. If I invest one or two gold coins worth of Prosperity into the Low and Average silvron armaments, I should be able to create ¡®something¡¯ of decent value. Percy licked his lips while retrieving the bed from his spatial ring to sleep. My next move should be careful. Once I start selling Elite Artifacts, people will pay more attention to me. But do I really have to be careful? It shouldn¡¯t be easy to tarnish my reputation now. No. Nevermind. I can think of multiple ways to tarnish my shop¡¯s reputation. Let¡¯s forget about that. He sighed deeply, hoping nothing bad would happen in the next few weeks. The merchants should stay in their shops and work harder than him to retain customers instead of doing something shady. Percy went to sleep, ready to wake up early. However, he didn¡¯t expect to be woken up this early. ¡­ The eveewood door¡¯s [Alarm] didn¡¯t trigger, but it wasn¡¯t necessary to hear the commotion from outside. The first rays of sunlight were about to emerge behind the horizon, yet nobody seemed to care about that. Are you serious now?! Percy thundered when he woke up. He shot up from the bed, reached for the Silvron Sword in his spatial ring, and charged outside. Louis stumbled down the flight of stairs, his hands tightly clutching a pair of Iron Artifacts ¨C daggers with [Sharpness] which Percy gifted Louis. The Demi glanced at Percy in confusion for a moment but followed his boss as he charged outside. ¡°What is going on here?¡± Percy thundered, ready to go wild and taste some blood, when he saw that the situation had already been resolved. Five men wielding bats and brass knuckles were lying on the ground. Their writhing bodies were sprawled all around two familiar faces. ¡°Eren?¡± Percy looked at his friend in confusion and turned to the brother, ¡°And Tarlek? What are you guys doing here?¡± Erik waved excitedly in his direction while Tarlek was ready to answer. But they were interrupted by clanking armor resounding through the street. A group of city guards emerged from the main streets and slowed down when they found five writhing men sprawled around two Gifted. The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. ¡°What is going on here?!¡± One of the guards bellowed, tightly clutching his weapon. He was ready to attack at once. ¡°Are they the culprits?¡± Another guard asked, pointing at Erik and Tarlek instead of the five ruffians lying on the ground. ¡°Capture them!¡± A third guard ushered, only for the man leading the guards to squint his eyes. He took a second to take the picture before him and glanced at the other guards, ¡°Are you sure they¡¯re the culprits of the noise complaint? This looks much more than ¡®some problems with noises¡¯ to me.¡± ¡°Does the noise complaint matter right now, captain? We¡¯ve located multiple perpetrators attacking defenseless Normies. We have to help them!¡± Percy¡¯s hearing sense was good enough to hear the guards¡¯ comments from tens of meters away. Noise complaint? The commotion started less than ten seconds ago. Percy¡¯s eyes widened when he heard the impatience in the voice of three guards. They cast uncertain glances at each other, almost like the three guards didn¡¯t expect a certain turn of events. ¡°Stop right there!¡± One of them shouted, but it wasn¡¯t like anyone was moving. Other than the writhing ruffians, of course. ¡°How have you been?¡± Erik asked lightly, ignoring the guards charging in their direction. Percy responded with a groan. ¡°Do you think that¡¯s the right time to ask me how I¡¯ve been doing?¡± Erik shrugged in an uncaring manner, ¡°We will be fine. I might have broken a bunch of bones, but nobody was killed. That should be enough.¡± Percy wasn¡¯t so sure about that, but Tarlek was also relaxed. ¡°You look nice. The last few weeks have been good to you,¡± Tarlek commented while retrieving something from his tunic¡¯s inner pockets. One of the three guards who had been oddly impatient was about to shout something but the word stuck in his throat when he saw the ruby emblem Tarlek showed the guards. ¡°We are Imperial prospects and stopped these ruffians from breaking into this shop. I vow on the royal constitution and my sacred position as a future Imperial that everything I¡¯ve said is nothing but the truth!¡± Tarlek shouted loud enough to wake some residents in the neighborhood. Right. Imperials have a higher status than most Viscounts. Even their prospects are treated like barons following the constitution¡¯s clauses. Percy had used [Hawk Eyes] when he noticed something was off about¡­the entire scene. The hurried and angsty looked cast between the trio of odd guards didn¡¯t escape his attention. After ensuring the ruby symbol was official, the guard captain hinted a polite bow to Tarlek and apologized for the unpleasantries. Erik retrieved his emblem, indicating him as another Imperial prospect, when the guards studied him, only for Percy to again store his sword in the spatial ring. ¡°I heard the commotion from the inside of my shop and thought one of the merchants dropped me an unwelcome gift,¡± Percy said lightheartedly, but his eyes flicked to the odd trio and turned as cold as ice as he added, ¡°And I was wondering how to return it.¡± The odd guards burst into cold sweat, but the guard captain spoke first. ¡°I understand your worries, but you shouldn¡¯t accuse other merchants of this. They might bring you to court if you tarnish their reputation without hard evidence.¡± Percy nodded understandingly, but his fury had been unleashed. All he wanted was to keep his business open and work hard. Why was it necessary for some idiots to conduct something shady to harm him? Was that necessary? Of course, it wasn¡¯t. He approached the odd trio and stepped on one of the ruffians¡¯ heads. The ruffian groaned, but Percy didn¡¯t step back. ¡°I need hard proof, otherwise, I will be sent to court and punished? Is that so?¡± Percy murmured, ¡°I wonder what would happen to the accomplices if I ask my friends and the Reeze Duke for a little help. I traveled around a lot with Melissa Reeze and the Glacia Knights. I¡¯m sure they would help me find the culprits and their accomplices. But I¡¯m curious¡­¡± His eyes turned even colder, almost like [Frostbite] started mixing with [Hawk Eyes]. At the same time, Percy increased the weight on his foot. He was about to crush the ruffian¡¯s head. ¡°Will the culprits save their hide by putting all blame on their accomplices, or will they kill their accomplices to destroy all evidence?¡± He asked before again increasing the force applied to the ruffian¡¯s head. Silence filled the streets for a second before the ruffian underneath Percy groaned in pain. The guards could have sworn a cracking noise rang through the vicinity at this very moment. Finally, one of the odd guards couldn¡¯t keep his mouth shut anymore. He breathed heavily and pointed at one of the ruffians. ¡°Isn¡¯t that one of the kids working for the Golden Koi?¡± B2 Chapter 41 - Golden Koi The guard saved himself by putting all the blame on the Golden Koi. The Golden Koi was a medium-sized shop ¨C the owner probably being the one who¡¯d bribed the three guards and the ruffians ¨C and its main establishment was two streets away from the Dragon Lair. The Golden Koi had few serious competitors in the vicinity and ignored most smaller shops and vendors, but something must have happened to agitate the Golde Koi¡¯s owner. Is it because of the Tiagro Sword Artifact? Or the Yvelton Ring? Or is that guy worried about the Iron Artifacts? That doesn¡¯t make any sense. ¡°How about you don¡¯t kill him in front of the city guards?¡± Tarlek proposed to Percy, pulling him out of his train of thought. ¡°Oh, yeah,¡± Percy responded absentmindedly and stepped back. The ruffian released a final pained groan before losing consciousness, but not even the guards paid attention to it. Percy was still wondering why the Golden Koi targetted him less than two weeks after he¡¯d established his shop, but he turned to the guard captain. Maybe it is the speed at which my shop is growing? He shrugged inwardly while speaking to the guard, ¡°Since your colleague knows where this group of idiots works, and two Imperial prospects stopped them right before they could attack my poor, little shop¡­what do you think I should do?¡± The last words escaping his lips were poisonous. They struck the guard captain square in the face. The mana gushing out of Percy¡¯s body couldn¡¯t be underestimated at this moment. He felt like an Elite Demon who was about to pounce and tear him a new one. ¡°We should write a report and send a warning to the Golden Koi. If they¨C...¡± The guard captain said slowly but stopped when Percy shook his head slowly. ¡°How about you report this to your superiors?¡± Percy asked, but he could immediately tell that the guard captain didn¡¯t want to do that. Why? Percy had no idea. He didn¡¯t know the capital ¨C or politics, as a matter of fact ¨C good enough to understand the city guards and all rules. Thus, he used his most common trump card, ¡°Do you know the Reeze Duke? I traveled with his daughter, and he owes me something. If you don¡¯t want to end up in court, you better stay honest and write a detailed report AFTER interrogating these idiots thoroughly!¡± He glanced at the trio of guards, his eyes spitting venom. The two guards had been cursing the other bribed guard, who¡¯d exposed the ruffian¡¯s identity, until a moment ago. But now they were certain Percy was fully aware of what was happening. They were accomplices, and if they messed up¡­ He would search for them and kill them! ¡°We won¡¯t leave out the slightest detail,¡± The second accomplice nodded, while the third shuddered while pointing at the ruffians, ¡°And we will interrogate them thoroughly. W¡ª The Golden Koi won¡¯t bother you anymore.¡± Percy clicked his tongue and spit out, ¡°I sure hope so.¡± He turned around and glanced at the ruffians. Percy considered kicking one of them in the face momentarily, but he controlled his fury and entered the shop. ¡°The show is over,¡± He told Louis, who was still tense and trying to figure out what had happened. Erik and Tarlek nodded and entered the shop. Erik glanced at Louis, smiled at the Demi, and pulled his arm around his shoulder to drag the youngster inside. Louis and Percy¡¯s friends went inside while Percy cast a last glance outside, ¡°One of you can come inside if you have any questions. If not¡­have a nice day,¡± Percy said, closing the door without waiting for a response and turning around. He cursed softly but decided the guards and the Golden Koi weren¡¯t worth it. ¡°Do you want us to tell the Merchant Office or Melissa about this incident?¡± Tarlek asked, while Erik added, ¡°Melissa will like this. Especially the part where you use her father to scare the guards.¡± Percy rolled his eyes at Eren¡¯s comment but considered Tarlek¡¯s offer, ¡°You can tell Melissa about it if you think that¡¯ll help me, but I¡¯m not so sure about it. This is weird. Tarlek nodded, ¡°Do you know the Golden Koi shop?¡± ¡°I have never been near the shop, and all I know is some rumors I picked up while I roamed around looking for good investments. The Golden Koi seems a bit shady but not like that. They bribed three guards. Everything was well orchestrated, but they didn¡¯t expect you to arrive. Thanks for beating them, by the way. It¡¯s better if some Imperial prospects break a few bones than some ordinary merchant doing the same. They would either imprison me or throw me out of the capital,¡± Percy chuckled, but the brothers looked at him dead serious. Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. ¡°I don¡¯t think anyone would throw you out for that. In the first place, you are as far from an ordinary merchant as someone can be,¡± Tarlek commented while Erik pointed at his eyes. ¡°I really want to punch you for that smile,¡± Percy told Eren, whose shit-eating grin widened. ¡°Yes yes. Beat me up,¡± Erik laughed, ¡°But on a more serious note. How have you been? You must have been raking a fortune if you¡¯ve already attracted the attention of some shady business owner.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not exactly a fortune,¡± Percy mumbled. His profit had been rather high, but it wasn¡¯t like he had earned hundreds of gold coins. The goods in his shop were far from that costly. ¡°Or he¡¯s afraid because his customers have been talking about your shop. They might have heard about your connection with the Reeze Duke or¡­¡± Tarlek glanced at Louis ¨C his ears ¨C for a moment but chose not to speak his thoughts aloud, ¡°Or it is something else.¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. I can take care of this issue,¡± Percy walked into the storage room, followed by Erik and Tarlek. Louis excused himself, saying he would tell his sister everything was fine. ¡°You¡¯ve got a good kiddo there,¡± Erik said, more serious than usual, ¡°His Tier isn¡¯t that high, but he¡¯s physically stronger than many Elite Gifted. This brat would have jumped at the guards if they¡¯d attacked you too. Such loyalty is rare.¡± Percy smiled but didn¡¯t say anything. He retrieved a bunch of iron and silvron armaments from his spatial ring before also retrieving the list of items he owned and the suggested enchantments he¡¯d noted the night before. Once that was done, Percy retrieved a dozen gold coins, which he consumed right away. The abomination of his Ego burst out from his palm and devoured the gold coins instantly. ¡°No matter how often I see this, it always chills me.¡± Erik shuddered before Percy asked, ¡°What have you two been up to? As you can see, I have been busy with this shop. You guys must have had it a little bit more exciting.¡± Percy started working on the armaments and Ego-enhanced them as much as possible before writing down how much he¡¯d invested in the respective runic enchantments. He created a price list for all goods and adjusted them according to the material quality, the potency of each enchantment, and a few minor factors. Still, Percy never stopped listening intently to the brothers¡¯ story. ¡°The Imperial training is crazy. We have been busy training since we arrived in the capital. The Wintermoon Estate is a playground compared to the training we are currently going through. It¡¯s crazy!¡± Erik complained, but the smile on his face told everyone how much he actually liked it. ¡°We are getting stronger. Our Tier is increasing relatively fast, and we¡¯re out in the Wilderness more often to accumulate more combat experience. The instructors have been trying to hide this, but we heard something about more problems with Demons. More Demons are appearing all over the kingdom. Demons alone are still fine. We can locate them and take them out easily, but Demonic Gifted controls them. That makes everything more difficult, especially now that the situation with the Beastlands are getting tense again.¡± ¡°There are problems with the Beastlands again?¡± Percy asked. Is that why the Adventurers have been so angry at Louis and Sabrina? That could cause more problems if another war with the Beastlands erupts. Percy sighed. That¡¯s another thing to mark on the to-do list: Strengthen Louis and Sabrina. Should I buy Monster Cards for them or focus on their mana control first? He ruffled through his hair before continuing to work on his goods. No matter what he planned on doing; Percy needed more money. ¡°It¡¯s not that bad yet, but I think the Beastmen take advantage of our problems with the Demons. Usually, Demons are a problem for the entire mortal realm, but it looks like most Demons and Demonic Gifted have been sighted in the Kainesh Kingdom. Our neighbors don¡¯t have as many problems with them.¡± ¡°That¡¯s bad,¡± Percy commented. ¡°Oh, yeah. It certainly is. And that¡¯s why the royal family has been investing more heavily into the Imperial prospects. They¡¯ve been searching for more Egos to train and have already added six commonbirth Egos to train as future Imperials. I¡¯m surprised they didn¡¯t ask you yet.¡± Percy shrugged. Becoming an Imperial sounded nice, but he had already enough issues with his unknown family background and the shop. Now that I think about it, I haven¡¯t been thinking about my family ¨C or whatever is left of it ¨C since I¡¯ve opened the Dragon Lair. Erik and Tarlek looked at each other and saw how Percy reacted to their comments. ¡°I thought you would be more disappointed,¡± Erik commented begrudgingly, while Tarlek snickered, ¡°We expected you to be more distressed about your family drama and that you haven¡¯t been accepted into this year¡¯s Imperial training. But it looks like we were worried for no reason.¡± The brothers weren¡¯t disappointed in Percy¡¯s changes. If anything, they were interested about how far his Ego would push Percy as long as he continued pursuing this career for a while. Once his shop could run independently, with only a few days every few months spent by Ego-enhancing piles of unenchanted equipment, Percy could do whatever he wanted. Maybe the brothers and every other Imperial prospect would improve faster than Percy in the next few months, but Percy had a shocking long-term advantage. ¡°If you have anything for me to Ego-enhance. Tell me about it. I can squeeze some custom orders for you in between,¡± Percy commented, but there was something dangerous in his eyes. ¡°Where is the hook?¡± Percy was still smiling but the same shit-eating grin like Erik had shown a moment ago blossomed on his face. ¡°You have to pay me fairly, of course! My power doesn¡¯t grow on trees!¡± Erik groaned, and even the smile on Tarlek¡¯s lips cracked. ¡°Can you give us a discount at least?¡± ¡°Please¡­¡± B2 Chapter 42 - Crimson Mark The brothers didn¡¯t stay long in the Dragon Lair shop. They came early to talk to Percy and make sure that he was doing fine, but they had to leave for the morning training session. Erik and Tarlek asked Percy to create Master Artifacts for them when he had the time and money to do so. Customized Elite Artifacts were already precious and hard to come by, but Master Artifacts were even harder to come by. Still, as future Imperials, the brothers were in need of better equipment. They received a monthly allowance from the crown, which would increase drastically once their status increased from Imperial prospects to full-fledged Imperials, but nobody could be certain how expensive Percy¡¯s Master Artifacts would be. Yet one thing was certain; Percy¡¯s Artifacts would be cheaper and perfectly adjusted to Erik and Tarlek¡¯s power. Though it was going to be a hassle to create Artifacts for Tarlek given his unique Ego. Percy had yet to figure out what to do to counter Tarlek¡¯s Ego without weakening the Artifact or the Ego. I don¡¯t think their Tier has reached Master yet. The clash with the demons pushed my Tier up by several ranks, while the others didn¡¯t improve. I should have roughly half a year if they¡¯re pushing above and beyond to finish their Master Artifacts. That should be fine. Percy nodded slowly, his eyes drifting to the stashes of Artifacts spread across the storage. ¡°Five Elite Artifacts and a batch of 37 Iron Artifacts,¡± He mumbled, ¡°The Iron Artifacts are more valuable now, though. There are broadswords, sabers, spears, and several types of shields with different enchantments. The Elite Artifacts should earn 15 gold coins, just like the Artifacts. But with the production cost deducted, that is less than I wanted.¡± Percy ruffled his hair while storing the goods in his spatial ring to return to the shop, where everything was placed orderly. The Tiagro Sword netted more profit than the five Elite Artifacts together. But that¡¯s no surprise. It was, by far, the best Artifact in the shop. [Mana Slash] is a great enchantment. What a shame that Bert¡¯s silvron armaments didn¡¯t reach the quality threshold to create another Artifact with [Mana Slash] or [Frostblade]. He cursed himself for being impatient and moved on. Once all items were placed, Louis and Sabrina came down from the second floor. Sabrina looked shaken, but her brother had already consoled her. She was trying to act strong, but the commotion must have triggered old memories. ¡°You can rest if you¡¯re not feeling well today,¡± Percy offered, but the young Demi shook her head, ¡°I can do it!¡± Percy took her by the word with a nod and turned away to keep working. ¡°I will roam the streets to find some hidden treasures. Take care of the shop until I¡¯m back.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, we will take care of the shop!¡± Louis announced proudly as Percy left. *** Percy roamed through the capital''s bustling streets, but his mind wasn¡¯t where it was supposed to be. What am I supposed to do about the Golden Koi? I cannot deal with them like I would deal with demons. Tearing them apart in the capital doesn¡¯t sound like a smart plan. Is my warning good enough, or should I¡¯ve made a better example out of the ruffians and the bribed guards? A heavy sigh escaped his lips. He found some interesting vendors, including one where sweets and potions were sold. That reminded him of baker Leonhard as the stall owner reassured him that the sweets contained magical herbs and highly nutritious ingredients. Percy wasn¡¯t poor anymore and didn¡¯t spend too much money on sweets. He only purchased one bag of sweets instead of three. The luminescent hue engulfing the viscous liquid of most potions from the same stall was too attractive to ignore. Percy purchased all potions, procuring a wide range of potions that could be further Ego-enhanced and sold for a fortune. That wasn¡¯t too bad! Percy was rather satisfied with his negotiation skills, but his good mood was shattered the moment he arrived near the Golden Koi¡¯s main establishment. It was the first time he had arrived before the Golden Koi, and it bothered him that the shop¡¯s exterior was amazing. First, the building had three floors, with a sign saying that there were two floors underground. Second, the exterior was covered in bright colors and rope enchanted with illumination enchantments to light up the shop and attract customers on the darkest nights. Last but not least, a massive statue of a golden koi was placed next to the entrance. Either it was covered in gold, or the Golden Koi owner decided to waste even more money by pouring ¨C only the devil knows how much ¨C gold to make a statue of the Golden Koi¡¯s mascot. Percy considered stealing it until his Ego considered it his property. He would devour it without leaving any evidence behind. It would be the perfect crime. Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon. But he decided against it after a moment. Maybe it would work, but the chance of getting caught in the capital was too high. Percy left with a sigh and turned back to return home after buying two decent weapons from a nearby stall. One of the weapons was a war axe, while the other was another Tiagro Sword. Their quality wasn¡¯t marvelous, but it was good enough to enchant them properly. At least my Ego is doing fine. I¡¯m progressing fast enough, and my Tier will soon reach Elite-9. That and my fortune are nice. I should ignore my worries about my family background and the Golden Koi. He clicked his tongue, thinking about the mystery of his family again, and returned home, where he enchanted the new addition of weapons with enchantments that cost around 100,000 Prosperity. Most of his remaining fortune was drained by upgrading the potions he¡¯d purchased, but that was fine. Everything had been properly Ego-enhanced for customers to purchase. It was only a matter of time before his investment would return with profit. *** Against Percy¡¯s expectations, the customer flow in the Dragon Lair didn¡¯t deteriorate. On the contrary, more customers with bigger wallets found their way into his shop. Some were young and looked like the snobby heirs he¡¯d encountered in the Wintermoon Estate, but they were weaker. Percy didn¡¯t know much about the nobility in the capital and cared too little about the Kainesh Kingdom¡¯s nobility to research them. To sell his goods, it was enough to treat his customers with great care and kindness. He increased his pricing a little again, but not by much. Most younger Adventurers didn¡¯t have many coins and would end up in dangerous situations in the Wilderness because they did not have the means for ample preparations. Percy hoped his Iron Artifacts could cover the lack of preparation to a certain degree. It might not have been his responsibility to care for the Adventurers, but there was no need to increase his prices further. He was fine with the profit he earned, especially because his prices generated a loyal customer base of young men and women, whose power increased faster thanks to Percy¡¯s Artifacts. After visiting the Dragon Lair, their survivability and ways to earn more coins improved. Most were thankful enough to visit his shop again, where they paid more coins to purchase more and better equipment, which could only be purchased for twice the price elsewhere. It had only been a few days after Bert¡¯s last visit but most Iron Artifacts had already been sold. Even the Artifact made from Silvron had been sold. The War Axe was still in the shop, but many customers cast curious glances at the Artifact. It had been enchanted twice with both [Bleeding] and [Cleave]. The latter allowed the user to tear through his enemies with tremendous accumulated force, breaking powerful defenses like they were made out of paper, while the former prevented the target from regenerating his wounds easily. Healing from wounds with the [Bleeding] affliction would take more time and resources. Still, the price was too much for most Adventurers. Not many Adventurers were tall and strong enough to wield the War Axe smoothly. Most would end up endangering their lives by using the large War Axe rather than terrorizing their enemies. But that was fine. Percy was patient. ¡°Iron Artifacts are so much better than I expected,¡± One of the younger customers mumbled while his partner agreed, ¡°The scrap from the Golden Koi is nothing compared to the Dragon Lair¡¯s Iron Artifacts. There is no way Engraver Apprentices worked on these Iron Artifacts. The enchantments are perfectly adjusted.¡± Another customer inspecting some potions perked up and asked the couple, ¡°Did the Golden Koi retaliate against the Dragon Shop because of the Iron Artifacts? Are they afraid to lose out to the Dragon Lair?¡± ¡°Incident?¡± The couple asked. ¡°You didn¡¯t hear¡­¡± Percy didn¡¯t stop the gossip in his shop. If anything, it was interesting to listen to. His gossiping customers were the reason Percy found out that the Golden Koi had been given a hefty fine for disrupting other businesses and a Crimson Mark for hiring people to trash a rival shop. That was also how Percy discovered that the bridge guards escaped any punishment. At least none of the gossiping customers mentioned anything about bribed guards. But a Crimson Mark was still better than nothing, even more so because the Golden Koi already had one Crimson Mark from an incident two years ago. Crimson Marks were bad. Really bad. All you needed was three Crimson Marks to lose everything you¡¯ve worked for. The leases for all of your shops would be revoked, and the shop would be permanently closed. The owner and everyone responsible for the Crimson Marks would lose all their credentials in the capital and most major cities, and they would be blacklisted from establishing any business for a year, in most cases. However, the blacklist could also be extended to up to ten years, depending on the severity of actions that lead to the Crimson Mark. The only worse option was an Obsidian Mark; one was enough to permanently put you out of business or have you investigated and ¡®invited¡¯ to the High Court. Either way, Percy was rather satisfied with the result. Everything would be fine if the Golden Koi stopped bothering him. Even if they didn¡¯t stop, all it took was one more Crimson Mark to take out the Golden Koi. That didn¡¯t sound bad either. Percy listened to the gossiping customers for a long time. He didn¡¯t even notice when another familiar face entered the Dragon Lair. He had been expecting Bert, but the young blacksmith wasn¡¯t the familiar face in question. Percy¡¯s attention flickered to the door when the [Alarm] enchantment triggered. Someone with ill intentions had entered the room. A groan escaped his lips. ¡°What are you doing here, Melissa?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to be here, either,¡± Melissa asked in an annoyed tone. ¡°But it¡¯s not like I can avoid this if you keep causing trouble in the capital!¡± B2 Chapter 43 - Important Meeting ¡°It¡¯s not my fault trouble is coming my way,¡± Percy murmured, but that didn¡¯t help with Melissa¡¯s deadly glare. If anything, Melissa looked like she considered killing him on the spot. That was¡­not good. Percy hurriedly walked around the wooden counter and tried ignoring Melissa as he headed for the eveewood door. He channeled mana into the runic enchantment and deactivated [Alarm] before turning to the remaining customers. ¡°I apologize. That was a test to see if everything was working fine,¡± He said quickly. ¡°The reports reached the Estate. In the seven hells, Percy! Why would you use my father¡¯s name so often?! Are you tired of living?¡± Melissa hissed. Percy flinched and forced a smile through his discomfort. ¡°I didn¡¯t think much about it. Once I said I know the Reeze Duke and his daughter, most problems were solved right away,¡± Percy tried putting on a defense, ¡°It was the best way to avoid more problems.¡± Melissa cursed quietly, but Percy didn¡¯t understand what she said. Maybe that was for the best. ¡°First, we received a report from the Guild about the Duke¡¯s ¡®friend¡¯ having been in an altercation with an Adventurer, and then there is the city guard¡¯s report about the Golden Koi¡¯s shady business and that they swear on their duty that they interrogated everyone thoroughly. What did you do to scare everyone this much?!¡± Percy¡¯s smile ceased, and he tilted his head. ¡°I never said I¡¯m your father¡¯s friend. As for the city guards¡­Well, I had to intimidate them a little because the Golden Koi orchestrated something. I don¡¯t know what their exact plan had been, but three city guards, bribed by Golden Koi, were present. The bribed guards exposed these idiotic Normie ruffians after I did something.¡± ¡°I think you mean ¡®crushing someone¡¯s skull¡¯ with ¡®something.¡¯¡± Melissa rumbled, to which Percy didn¡¯t respond. A heavy sigh escaped Melissa¡¯s lips, and her shoulders slumped down, ¡°Can you imagine how much I had to work to fix your mess while I was supposed to be fully focused on the Imperial training? Father told me I am responsible for taking care of this mess because we traveled together. He said we¡¯re friends and that I, as your friend, am responsible for the trouble you¡¯ve caused.¡± She spit the last words out like venom and acted like the word ¡®friends¡¯ was cursed or poisoned. ¡°Heh.¡± Percy rubbed his head. He wasn¡¯t sure if he could call Melissa a friend, but his time with her and the Glacia Knights was certainly one of the bigger turning points in his life. He wouldn¡¯t be here if he had never met Lady Reeze and her escort. Melissa noticed the eyes lingering on her and saw recognition in the faces of two older Adventurers. The shock in their eyes was everything she had to see to tell that they recognized her. ¡°Can we talk somewhere else?¡± She asked. Percy nodded and turned to the storage room, only to switch to the staircase. ¡°We¡¯re going upstairs for a few minutes,¡± He told Louis, who could only nod. Louis blushed when Melissa¡¯s attention averted to him. She glanced at the Demi, who quickly pulled his clothes to look decent before Melissa. They walked upstairs a moment later while the Demis took care of the shop. ¡°I read about the Demis. The brother would probably have been punished if you didn¡¯t use my father¡¯s name.¡± Percy didn¡¯t respond to that but knew Melissa was right. ¡°Do you want to drink something, or is there something else I can¨C...¡± ¡°Stop that nonsense. We might be on friendly terms, and I cannot beat you black and blue for behaving like an elephant in a glass house before I know whether you are a noble or not, but that doesn¡¯t mean I want to stay here longer than necessary.¡± Percy raised an eyebrow but remained silent. ¡°Father wants to meet with you in the Estate in a week,¡± Melissa said. ¡°Why?¡± Melissa glared at him for speaking bluntly like that. ¡°Lady Reeze, I sincerely apologize for my lack of etiquette and proper manners, but my question remains the same. Why?¡± Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions. Is it related to the Imperial training? Erik and Tarlek said something about the crown searching for more talented Egos. But I don¡¯t want to become an Imperial right now. This shop is perfect for me. I can earn a fortune all while my Ego is progressing quickly. This is the perfect place for my growth! ¡°No, this has nothing to do with the Imperial training,¡± Melissa murmured, almost like she could read his thoughts, ¡°Erik and Tarlek must have told you about it a few days ago, but no. You haven¡¯t been invited to the Imperial training, and you probably won¡¯t. That has nothing to do with a lack of talent or anything like that. No. Father wants you to come to the Estate because of something related to your background. Father said he finally found some clues.¡± Melissa¡¯s frustration dispersed, just like the iciness in her voice, ¡°He wants you to meet someone.¡± *** The rest of the day passed in a blur. Percy didn¡¯t even know at what time Melissa left or how long he had been sitting on the chair before Sabrina came to check on him. The young Demi was worried about him and cried ugly. Snot poured down her nose, and the noises she made while crying, trying to shake Percy awake, weren¡¯t human either. She sounded like a cat in unbearable pain. ¡°I¡¯m fine¡­¡± Percy said when Louis came to check on him as well. Or am I not fine? Only one thing reverberated through his mind when he heard Melissa¡¯s last words. The Reeze Duke found someone who knows me. They¡­found someone from my family. Percy gave his best to put aside the confusion that had plagued him all this while. He knew he wanted to meet his family but was unsure what to expect. What if the meeting with his family would destroy his childhood? What if ugly things about the person he held dearly in his heart came to light? Percy was not sure if he could handle this. Therefore, he did the only thing that distracted him successfully. He jumped back into work and pushed his worries aside. Maybe the problems with his mysterious background would be no more in a week if he didn¡¯t think about it. Percy held tightly onto that thought even though nothing would obviously change. *** The following days were a blur of constant work. Percy couldn¡¯t remember when he slept or if he did sleep in the first place, but he was far from tired. He wouldn¡¯t be thinking about the upcoming meeting if he had been tired¡­right? Only snippets of the events in the last few days were etched on his mind. He remembered the crook-nosed elderly woman, who¡¯d sold him her potions before entering the Dragon Lair shop and that she sold him her stash of more than two hundred potions for a nice price. Percy might have been absentminded for a while, but he recalled asking the elderly woman if she was willing to sell him her goods more often. The elderly woman was curious why he was so interested in her goods but quickly noticed that Percy wasn¡¯t paying much attention to her. The elderly woman returned to his shop daily to check the potion shelves, which would have alarmed Percy if he had been focused on work. But that wasn¡¯t the case. The elderly woman recognized her products sold in the Dragon Lair but noticed that something about them had changed. The viscous liquid within the potion wasn¡¯t deadly pale anymore. The potions had been neatly placed in the shelves where their vibrant content reflected the rays of sunlight shimmering through the windows in the most impressive way. The elderly woman asked Percy a few questions, but he couldn¡¯t recall the questions or what he had answered. But he could remember Bert coming to his shop twice that week. First, he hugged Percy tightly, thanking him over and over again for enchanting the forging hammer. He handed Percy a big batch of iron armaments, which had been created in the days Bert had been experimenting with the [Echo] enchantment. It wasn¡¯t easy to control but given his incredible experience with iron, Bert cut the production time for iron goods in half. Bert also requested to hire some kids who lived near his smithy. Their parents weren¡¯t well-off, and they struggled to cover all living expenses. That was not a logical reason for Percy to hire them, but the youngsters would help Bert organize everything, purchase materials, inspect the fire, and make sure it was at perfect temperature at all times while Bert focused solely on the forging process. That was enough reason for Percy to agree to hire three youngsters. One of them was interested in becoming Bert¡¯s apprentice, but it wasn¡¯t like Bert completed his blacksmith license yet. According to the constitution, Bert wasn¡¯t a full-fledged blacksmith yet. Of course, that was nonsense. Still, he couldn¡¯t take in any students while he was still an apprentice. The second time Bert arrived, he brought a bunch of silvron armaments. He stopped experimenting with iron and switched to using [Echo] on silvron as well. It was a little bit more difficult, but Bert made it work. The quality of his work didn¡¯t improve by much but he was getting faster. That was great, and it would have excited Percy if he hadn¡¯t been busy thinking about the following day. It had been six days since Melissa arrived, and it was already late. The shop was close, and Percy didn¡¯t have anything to distract him. He was going crazy. What is going to happen tomorrow? Who will I meet? Is my family dead, and it is only an acquaintance of my family who wants to see me? Or will everything be for naught, and the Duke was mistaken? He is not perfect and might make a mistake as well. Am I supposed to be happy and excited or confused and worried? Percy¡¯s thoughts didn¡¯t let him rest. They forced him to stay awake and devise hundreds of possibilities for the following day. But what exactly was he expecting from tomorrow? What would happen? Percy didn¡¯t know, and he would rather stop thinking about it. Thus, Percy chose to do something he hadn¡¯t done in the last few weeks. He returned to the royal forest, where his mind was cleansed of all worries. ¡°Some kind of plants with properties that calm the mind must be nearby,¡± Percy mumbled as something else, but the thoughts of the following day attracted his mind, ¡°That¡¯s interesting. He summoned the Gnoll Warrior and the Blueflame Hawk in the forest and climbed up a tree, glad that his mind was finally void of any doubts above the ground. ¡°This is so much better,¡± He snickered, ¡°Why didn¡¯t I return earlier?¡± B2 Chapter 44 - Encounter Escaping civilization and leaving behind all responsibilities, from time to time, worked wonders. Percy slept like a stone. The tension left his body throughout the night as the nocturnal creatures opened their eyes. The creatures of the night weren¡¯t silent and probably a threat to an unguarded young man like Percy, but he wasn¡¯t worried. He slept through the night without any worries on his mind. The wake-up call arrived with the rise of the sun. A cacophony of sounds followed dawn. The hungrily chirping birds woke up at dawn, creating a chorus of high-pitched noises, which transformed into an opera as a strong morning breeze brushed through the royal forest. The trees creaked happily as if rejoicing at Percy¡¯s presence. Percy stretched his body on the thick branch and turned around. The last few days hadn¡¯t been good on him. A myriad of thoughts prevented him from sleeping, and his body wanted to make up for the missed hours. Unfortunately, Percy had to get up. He opened his weary eyes slowly and stared at the cloudless sky through the narrow gaps in the canopy. The scent of hundreds of magical herbs filled the surroundings, and Percy activated [A Hunter¡¯s Smell] without a second thought. He closed his eyes again and welcomed the strong scents all around him. This is so much better than staying in the storage. He chuckled and would have stayed where he was if the Blueflame Hawk didn¡¯t forced Percy to get moving. ¡°What¡¯s the problem now?¡± Percy mumbled incomprehensibly, but the Blueflame Hawk wasn¡¯t with him. The monster couldn¡¯t hear him. It screeched again in his mind. That feels weird. It was almost like the Blueflame Hawk used the link with the Monster Card to pull on his soul. How is that possible? I haven¡¯t read anything about that before. Are Cardists capable of doing something like that? While the new discovery was interesting and worth paying more attention to in the future, he paid more attention to the feelings accompanying the Blueflame Hawk¡¯s pull. Something was off. We¡¯re in the royal forest. There shouldn¡¯t be anything strong enough to scare or worry the Blueflame Hawk. Percy followed his gut feeling, climbed down the tree, and traveled deeper into the forest, where the Blueflame Hawk was at. Finding the Blueflame Hawk wasn¡¯t a challenge, but what he found could only be described as confusing. The Blueflame Hawk conjured a [Frostbite] icicle and released it into a small clearing in the middle of the forest, which was followed by a roar and azure flames flickering through the clearing. A magical beast? Percy was confused and retrieved the Silvron Sword as he charged ahead. He burst through the bushes, revealing a lion with a blazing mane. Its azure flames flickered dangerously, but they didn¡¯t burn anything. The Blueflame Hawk circled the lion and would have released a few more [Frostbite] icicles if there hadn¡¯t been one issue. There was something underneath the lion, and it wasn¡¯t moving away from that thing. There is no need to worry. Just attack it. Oh¡­nope. Nevermind. Don¡¯t attack! Percy¡¯s eyes widened. There wasn¡¯t a thing underneath the lion but a human! A child, to be precise. ¡°Come back!¡± Percy commanded the Blueflame Hawk, which followed his orders, though unwillingly. The lion spun around, but not without forgetting to avoid trampling the child by all means. It¡¯s¡­not attacking the child. Percy¡¯s eyes narrowed, and he recalled the Blueflame Hawk. His monster didn¡¯t want to leave but had no choice but to obey. Percy looked around and discovered only a few important details. First, the clearing was covered in blood. Some of it belonged to the lion, but most of it belonged to the monster corpses, which Percy recognized as Dwarven Wolves. They were small, but that didn¡¯t mean the wolves were weak. Their strength was comprised and magically enhanced, which was similar to the theories revolving around a Dwarven¡¯s strength and durability. The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. The azure-maned lion was exhausted. It breathed heavily and bled from several wounds. Nonetheless, it didn¡¯t leave the child¡¯s side. It protected the child ¨C a little girl ¨C with its life on the line. Like a guardian. ¡°I¡¯m sorry that my monster attacked you. It misunderstood your intentions and thought you would hurt the little girl,¡± Percy said in a hurry while the lion roared at him. However, the roar was weak. Percy could kill the creature if necessary, but he hoped he wouldn¡¯t have to go that far, ¡°You¡¯re protecting her, aren¡¯t you? How about you let me help her?¡± The lion roared at him again, but it stepped back to look at the child. She wasn¡¯t moving. ¡°If you want me to help her before it¡¯s too late, you have to trust me,¡± Percy declared in an urgent voice. He stared at the lion and made eye contact with the beast. The creature looked at him for a few seconds and Percy couldn¡¯t help but feel like the lion looked in the depths of his soul, but it pulled away. Not only that, the lion collapsed to the ground and transformed into a Monster Card, which manifested above the unconscious girl. The Monster Card returned to the girl, leaving her amidst a bloody battlefield. ¡°That¡­was weird¡­¡± Percy muttered before rushing forward. Since the beast was not there anymore, Percy had no reason to hesitate. He arrived before the girl while retrieving several potions. The girl looked mostly fine on the outside. She had a few scratches on her arm and a cut in her face, but [Hawk Eyes] didn¡¯t discover anything a potion couldn¡¯t solve. He removed the cap of a Healing Potion and gently lifted her upper body, only to freeze. She¡¯s cold, but her breathing is normal. Her mana is drained! Percy was surprised to see a young child ¨C the girl couldn¡¯t be a day older than seven years old ¨C to have access to enough mana to become a Cardist and control a beast like the azure-maned lion. That was a shock, to say the least, but it explained the current situation. She summoned the lion and collapsed because she wasn¡¯t strong enough to handle the strain of controlling a beast this strong. Who was stupid enough to give the girl such a Monster Card and to leave her alone in the royal forest?! Percy cursed but fed the Health Potion to the girl. He fed her with a Mana Potion and reached for some blankets in his spatial rings to cover her in several layers. A sigh of relief escaped his lips when the girl¡¯s cheeks warmed up a little, and he slumped to the ground. ¡°What a way to start the day! " he chuckled nervously. But where are you from, little girl?¡± He wondered where the girl came from and how she ended up in the middle of the royal forest, but her appearance quickly answered those questions. Only now that the child¡¯s condition improved did Percy look at her features properly. The girl had soft features and smiled vibrantly even though she wasn¡¯t awake. She clearly had a nice dream, which Percy didn¡¯t want to interrupt. Though he certainly felt like flicking the girl¡¯s forehead for sleeping in the middle of the royal forest. Even if it was mostly safe, there was no guarantee that animals wouldn¡¯t evolve and mutate under the influence of mana. Percy looked at the little girl and felt a little weird. Her long, silky black hair was well-kept but it reminded him of something of the past. But that couldn¡¯t be it. Whatever he tried to remember happened too long ago to recall it. Furthermore, the child wasn¡¯t even born at that time yet. ¡°This doesn¡¯t make any sense.¡± He chuckled. Her childish features were still present ¨C not really a surprise given her age¨C but it was clear that she was raised in a clean environment. There was not the faintest speck of dirt underneath her fingernails, even though she must have been in the forest all night. Yet, something about her features was weird. Was that a sense of familiarity? Percy shrugged. The young girl¡¯s clothes were also of high quality. They were probably ¨C no. Definitely! ¨C more valuable than Percy¡¯s clothes. Runic enchantments were woven in her flowery dress to keep her warm and protected. Percy noticed the runic enchantments a little late, but he removed the blankets when he did. Instead of putting her into a cocoon of blankets, Percy infused mana into the runic enchantments to keep her warm and protected. The girl wore several pieces of accessories. Everything you could think of. Runic ring, runic bracelets, runic necklaces, and runic earrings. Everything she wore was an Artifact. It wasn¡¯t far-fetched to conclude that the girl was of high birth. She was a Cardist with a powerful Monster Card. The azure-maned lion was most definitely stronger than the Blueflame Hawk and Gnoll Warrior combined. It was probably stronger even if Percy was included in the equation. Percy must have been busy for a few minutes because he didn¡¯t notice the girl stirring in her sleep. ¡°Hehe,¡± Percy heard a high-pitched giggle, ¡°Someone found me.¡± He turned to the girl, where he discovered a pair of vibrant azure-colored eyes. Oh shit. She saw me. That wasn¡¯t what Percy wanted, but it could have been worse. Well, it was worse. The little girl was none other than the Princess of the Kainesh Kingdom. The only heir to the throne! B2 Chapter 45 - Princess A young girl with long, silky black hair and azure eyes roaming through the royal forest without worries could only be the princess of the Kainesh Kingdom. That was unexpected, to say the least, but it wasn¡¯t advantageous. If she tells someone that I¡¯ve entered the royal forest without permission, they¡¯ll execute me¡­right? Or will the king have mercy because I helped his daughter? I don¡¯t really feel like playing with my life on the line. Percy cleared his throat and smiled at the princess, ¡°Are you fine, little one?¡± He had no idea if it would be better to be overly formal with the princess or to speak to her in a light tone. If she had been older, Percy would have chosen the former, but he couldn''t be certain since she was roughly seven years old. The princess tilted her head and looked around but Percy covered her eyes before she could see the monster carcasses. ¡°What?¡± She mumbled but didn¡¯t make a move to remove his hands. ¡°Please wait a second. I will bring you away from the clearing. Your lion was having fun with some friends, and the clearing looks a little bit ¡®unorganized.''¡± ¡°Okay,¡± The princess responded lightly and squealed when Percy lifted her from the ground. He picked her up and carried the princess out of the clearing, ¡°You can open your eyes again.¡± He told the princess, who¡¯d closed her eyes after Percy covered them. She probably knows what I meant when I told her that her summoned Monster ¡®had some fun¡¯. The princess¡¯ eyes lingered on him even after he let her down again. She studied him from head to toe, almost like she was trying to imprint the faintest details in her mind. ¡°Do you think it¡¯s possible if we keep all of this a secret?¡± Percy thus asked. It worried her that the princess studied him this intently. It felt like she was trying to remember him under any circumstances. As for why¡­ Percy hoped it was unrelated to executions and torture instruments. ¡°Hmm?¡± The princess tilted her head at his question. She looks so naive. Percy smiled, seeing her like that. The princess didn¡¯t seem like a bad girl. If anything, she looked like a playful, simple-minded child, which was probably good. ¡°I don¡¯t want to be in trouble because I entered the royal forest. I¡­was deep in thought and had to escape the capital for a few hours. That¡¯s how I ended up in here,¡± Percy explained quietly, ¡°How about we keep this as our little secret? In exchange¡­¡± He had no idea what to offer to a princess. What did she need in the first place? ¡°I understand. I feel the same,¡± The princess nodded seriously. But it was the kind of seriousness that shouldn¡¯t be accounted to a seven year old child, ¡°Everyone expects me to be perfect, to grow up strong, and to be even better than my father has been. But at the same time, everyone wants something from me. They want to be close to me but nobody is actually there for me. I can only trust my parents¡­¡± That is definitely not what I expected to hear. She must be lonely if everyone is only out for her political status. If she, as a seven-year-old child, doesn¡¯t know whom to trust and rely on¡­ Percy shuddered and only relaxed slightly when the princess¡¯ sadness was replaced with a smile. ¡°Play with me!¡± The seriousness escaped her features, and she acted like she had never been injured or had never slept in the royal forest. The princess was also not worried that he would do something to her or that something could happen to her in the royal forest. She was a weird mixture of naivety, kindness, seriousness, and sadness. Until today, Percy didn¡¯t know that was possible in the first place. But apparently, it was. Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. ¡°You want to play with me?¡± Percy responded stupefied. ¡°Yes! The Kainesh Lion is injured and too exhausted to come out and play. And I don¡¯t want to go back yet. It¡¯s the first time I¡¯ve escaped my classes. Please don¡¯t force me to go back to the etiquette and dance classes!¡± The princess pleaded to him with puppy eyes. They were destructive and shattered Percy¡¯s doubts and hesitation instantly. ¡°Alright. Let¡¯s play something¡­¡± *** Is she a monster in human skin? How in the seven hells is it possible for a child to have so much energy? Percy cursed in his mind. After playing with the young princess for how long, he was exhausted. The afternoon sun was already setting, yet the princess didn¡¯t even think about stopping. Percy requested to stop playing several times, but the princess clung onto him, embracing his legs tightly while pleading to stay. Unfortunately, Percy couldn¡¯t win against the princess. He might be stronger than her, but her puppy eyes had something Percy couldn¡¯t win against. It was almost like her puppy eyes were a mental attack, which crushed his defenses easily. Percy gave in to the princess¡¯ requests and kept playing with her, realizing two grave mistakes only when it was too late. Fuck¡­I missed the meeting with the Reeze Duke¡­ Well, maybe that¡¯s for the best. I don¡¯t think I¡¯m ready to meet anyone from my family or their acquaintances just yet¡­ If that had been his only ¡®grave¡¯ mistake, Percy would have been fine. Unfortunately, the other mistake was truly problematic. It was only obvious, but people had been searching for the princess. Percy should have expected that, yet he had been too busy playing with the princess. Playing with the little girl helped Percy switch off and enjoy the moment. It was also the first time he could play proper games for children. Old Greg played a lot with him, but the games were different. Old Greg created the games to train him in a ¡®fun¡¯ way. It had been fun, but children¡¯s games were different nonetheless. But Percy had to put aside the fun he had playing with the princess. It had been a nice time, but the Blueflame Hawk informed Percy that people were everywhere, spreading across the royal forest. They¡¯d circled the royal forest to search it thoroughly and would find Percy and the princess soon enough. Percy closed his eyes and channeled mana through his ears, enhancing his hearing sense. Yep. There are voices. Everywhere. Could he run? Was that option still valid? Probably not, given that the voices came from everywhere. The Blueflame Hawk also informed Percy that some powerful Gifted were in the search group. There were even monsters like Igor¡¯s Dachshund with a tracking Augmentation. Why did they come only now if they had the means to track the princess? Wait. That¡¯s not important right now. They have summoned monsters with good noses. They can smell me even if I were to flee. So what if the princess wouldn¡¯t say anything about me? Everyone would know she¡¯s hiding something. Percy cursed and paled a little. I sure hope nobody is going to beat the shit out of me for this one. A tiny hand reached out for his hand. The princess¡¯ hand coiled around three fingers and squinched them tightly. ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± She said when Percy looked down at her. The princess held him tightly, trying to give him some of her strength. At least someone is on my side. He chuckled inwardly, but the chuckle was stuck in his throat as another thought flashed into his mind. They will not execute me, right? The princess would be sad if they executed me. They wouldn¡¯t want to make her sad¡­probably. ¡°Let¡¯s face the dragon head-on!¡± Percy declared, which was apparently something exciting to say because Sophia Kain, the young princess, exclaimed loudly, ¡°Face the dragon!¡± The duo walked slowly through the densely grown undergrowth and headed to one of the large clearings in the forest. The Blueflame Hawk informed him that most ¡®enemies¡¯ were located over there. Thus they walked straight to the clearing. ¡°Careful,¡± Percy mumbled to the princess as he pulled a bush aside to make enough space for them to enter the clearing. The last rays of sunlight were about to be swallowed by the horizon, but the clearing was brighter than it would be during midday. Unfortunately, he couldn¡¯t check where the light came from because he felt hundreds of pair of eyes turn to them. He instinctively activated [Hawk Eyes] to analyze the scene ahead of him and circulated mana through his body to prepare for the worst. But what he saw confused him quite a bit. It didn¡¯t make any sense. ¡°What are the Reeze Duke and his Glacia Knights doing here?¡± Percy mumbled in disbelief, his eyes flicking left and right. ¡°Even Melissa and her mother are present. What is going on?¡± B2 Chapter 46 - The Same ¡°First, Percy decided to ignore the meeting and disappeared, and now the princess is missing as well. How could their maid lose Sophia? She isn¡¯t that fast and never threw a tantrum. The little girl is responsible and knows not to worry anyone. So why now?¡± Paul Reeze cursed softly. He glanced at his wife, who smiled gently at him. Unlike most people looking for the princess, the duchess wasn¡¯t worried. She stood next to her husband in the clearing of the royal forest and patted his shoulder calmingly. ¡°The little girl you¡¯re talking about is the princess and she has been under tremendous amounts of pressure since I can remember,¡± The duchess explained calmly, ¡°You know how Phillip and Reina have been since they lost their firstborn. They¡¯re too worried that something could happen again that they forget Sophia is still a child. Their worries reached a threshold that blurs their vision of Sophia. They cannot even see the tree amidst the forest anymore.¡± ¡°I know what you¡¯re trying to say but you better don¡¯t tell anyone else, darling. We don¡¯t want any trouble with the royal family,¡± Paul Reeze said, turning around to see if anyone was eavesdropping on them. The duchess and Reina Kain were friends from a young age, but that didn¡¯t mean it was a good idea to openly admit that the king and queen were having issues, no matter what the issue entailed. ¡°Today is a mess. I don¡¯t think it can get worse,¡± Paul Reeze grumbled a little louder, which earned him an affirmative nod from his wife. But the duchess¡¯ head flicked to the left instead of looking at him. She stared into the darkness of the royal forest¡¯s undergrowth and couldn¡¯t hide her smile when she discovered something. ¡°Why are you smiling?¡± Paul was interrupted when the bush his dear wife was looking at started rustling. The bush was pushed aside, and two familiar people emerged in the clearing. ¡°Tada,¡± The duchess snickered, ¡°Looks like you got a two in one deal right there.¡± *** The Duke, his wife and daughter, and the Glacia Knights rushed over to Percy and Sophia, but they weren¡¯t the only ones. There were hundreds of people in the clearing and only a small portion belonged to the forces of the Reeze Duke. Some men and women unsheathed their weapons, thinking something had happened when they saw the Glacia Knights rush to the bushes, while others noticed Percy and the princess. Only a few people had heard about Percy, which was also why the man who didn¡¯t know him charged forward, ready to attack Percy if he posed a threat to the princess. Surprise flickered in the Glacia Knight¡¯s eyes when they recognized eyes and they glanced over to their lord to find out what was going on, but Melissa Reeze was the first to speak what was on her mind. ¡°Why did you not attend the Estate for the meeting, Percy?!¡± Melissa cursed at him, but her eyes trailed to Sophia hiding behind Percy. Sophia clutched tightly onto Percy¡¯s pants, her eyes filled with fear as hundreds of Gifted charged at them. Melissa¡¯s eyes bulged, and her attitude changed right away. She smiled gently at Sophia and bowed deeply. However, when she lifted her body, Melissa hissed at Percy. ¡°In the seven hells¡­why is the princess with you?!¡± Ehh¡­ Percy didn¡¯t know how to explain it without incriminating himself. He rubbed the back of his head while smiling like a fool. ¡°You have nothing to say?! Let me help you with a beating!¡± Melissa spit venom but restrained her violent nature before the princess, ¡°...later. Just you wait!¡± Percy shuddered, which didn¡¯t help calm the princess. Tears welled up in her eyes. Percy squatted down and squished her cheeks lightly. Sophia looked into his vibrant, azure eyes, and Percy winked at her. The princess released a faint chuckle, which Percy took as a good sign. He wiped her tears and said. ¡°Everything is fine, okay?¡± He said reassuringly, ignoring his doubts and worries as he ruffled through her hair. At this point, everyone was present to see Percy and Sophia, but nobody spoke. The clearing was deadly silent, and everyone eyes were on Percy, who consoled the princess like a caring brother. Percy was glad when the princess stopped crying. He was aware that he had been insolent by treating the princess like a little girl and that it was inappropriate to treat the kingdom¡¯s princess like that, but Sophia was a human, a child before she was a princess. She deserved to be cared for. He got up again but noticed that Sophia didn¡¯t let go of his hand. On the contrary, she grasped him even tighter than before. Percy had seen the Reeze Duke and Melissa before, but he was looking for a gentle face to reassure him that everything would be fine. He was looking for the Duchess. She smiled gently at him, a tear trickling down her cheeks as she embraced the picture unfolding before her. ¡°Why do you look like the princess, sweetheart?¡± She asked Percy quietly, but the entire clearing was silent, and everyone could hear her. Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. Percy didn¡¯t expect the duchess to call him sweetheart suddenly. For a moment, he thought she was talking to someone else, but that wasn¡¯t the case. After hearing the duchess '' words, the princess looked at Percy for a moment, and Percy responded by looking back. She tilted her head, and Percy followed. ¡°We look the same?¡± Sophia asked, but she didn¡¯t sound confused. There was nothing but happiness in her voice. ¡°You look like me! Heheh~¡± Is that fun? As long as it makes you happy, I guess. Percy suppressed a wince. He expected reassurance from the duchess, but her words were like a fierce hammer strike. The tension in the clearing increased and didn¡¯t subside for several minutes. Some men and women, probably servants of the royal house, approached Sophia and tried to take her away ¨C they threw vigilant glances in his direction, and some froze in their tracks when they saw his azure eyes ¨C but the princess didn¡¯t follow them. On the contrary, she ordered them to stay back while happily talking to Percy, comparing their facial features. ¡°We have both azure eyes!¡± She exclaimed. ¡°That¡¯s correct,¡± Percy responded and cursed inwardly because everyone glared at him, ¡°...your excellency¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t call me that! You didn¡¯t do that earlier either,¡± The Princess demanded in her high-pitched voice. Percy felt like cursing even more when Sophia exposed him, but he nodded, ¡°As you wish.¡± The princess was satisfied and compared their features again. ¡°You have black hair as well!¡± She tried to reach for his hair, but the princess wasn¡¯t tall enough. Percy squatted down next to her again, allowing the princess to ruff through his hair, ¡°And it¡¯s soft just like mine, too!¡± Percy smiled at the princess as she giggled happily. ¡°Your smile is very nice!¡± She declared happily and compared them again, ¡°I was told to have a bright smile, too. You and I have nice smiles!¡± Percy was certain the princess would have continued comparing their features if they hadn¡¯t heard a desperate scream from the side. ¡°Sophia!!¡± The sound of clanking armor and footsteps reverberated through the royal forest as a young woman burst through the bushes. Hundreds of knights and other esteemed men and women rushed behind the woman, but they weren¡¯t as desperate as the young woman. The woman looked like she was in her mid-20s, but Percy had been too often mistaken about people¡¯s age. He always forgot to consider the slowed aging of Gifted. The higher someone¡¯s Tier and their mana purity, the slower someone would age after reaching maturity. At least, that was the norm. Thus, the woman was probably in her 30s, maybe even older. She had vibrant emerald eyes like Percy had seen only once before, but he paid more attention to her other features. She had long, silky black hair like Sophia and equally flawless skin. She was thin but more lean than skinny. Instead, the woman was well-trained but not too much to influence her aesthetics. Still, the mana coursing through her showed Percy clearly that she was a ferocious tiger. She was beautiful but dangerous if angered¡­or searching for her cub. ¡°Sophia!¡± She screamed again, her eyes trailing across the clearing until she found the princess. ¡°The fun is over,¡± Sophia murmured before smiling and waving at the woman, ¡°Mom!!¡± The ferocious tiger was none other than Sophia¡¯s mother. The Queen of the Kainesh Kingdom. It¡¯s time for me to scrap together every bit of etiquette I have. Being an insolent brat before the queen would get me killed right away. Percy had to suppress a shudder as he got up. He stepped away from Sophia and left the daughter-mother to reunite. He felt like running away for a moment, but the queen, and probably dozens of present Gifted Ones, were faster than he was. It was only obvious, but escape wasn¡¯t an option anymore. ¡°My little baby! Are you fine?¡± The Queen asked Sophia worriedly. She appraised the princess intently, turned her around to check her back as well, and didn¡¯t stop with her appraisal even after she was certain Sophia was fine. ¡°I¡¯m feeling better than ever, mother!¡± Sophia reassured with a smile, which crumbled when the Queen stared sharply at her daughter. Sophia broke into cold sweat and stammered something to save her hide, ¡°But the Kainesh Lion is hurt! And I am only fine because of some potions!¡± Seeing the worry return to the Queen¡¯s eyes, Sophia proceeded to tell her mother what happened. She fled from the palace because she was tired of the morning classes and ended up in the forest. Since nobody knew the royal forest better than her, the princess was fine. Until the Dwarven Wolves arrived, that is. She summoned the Kainesh Lion to protect her, but she collapsed after a few minutes due to the strain of summoning a monster stronger than the Cardist. The rest was history. Percy didn¡¯t know how long Sophia¡¯s story was, but he had to acknowledge that the little girl wasn¡¯t bad at storytelling. The Queen¡¯s expression changed often, and she inspected her daughter¡¯s well-being again after hearing about the Dwarven Wolves. She ushered something to the knights behind her, and Percy saw them spread out and return to the forest. The poor souls are going to have a long night. Percy thought, but he was pulled out of his train of thought when the Queen¡¯s emerald eyes landed on him. Sophia finished her story and pointed at Percy to tell her mother what a nice time she had playing with him. ¡°I am not sure what you have been doing in the royal forest, but I consider it a great fortune. Thank you for saving my daughter¨C....¡± The Queen was about to say more but the whatever she wanted to say was stuck in her throat. She froze in her tracks and looked at him for the first time. The Queen stepped closer until a waft of her perfume reached him. Percy tensed as she reached out for him. He expected something bad to happen, but the queen didn¡¯t do anything. Her trembling hands stopped before she could reach his face. The Queen noted his black hair and was glued on his azure eyes for a while until Sophia pulled her out of a trance. ¡°We look alike, don¡¯t you think so, mom?¡± The princess giggled, but it was almost like Sophia was the only one who couldn¡¯t perceive the tension in the air. The queen swallowed hard, ¡°Are you¡­Percy?¡± The duchess joined the queen, who looked over to her friend for affirmation. ¡°Yes, that¡¯s Percy,¡± The duchess answered with a knowing smile, ¡°He¡¯s the one you were supposed to meet this morning.¡± B2 Chapter 47 - The Royal Palace Percy wasn¡¯t sure what the conversation between the two women meant until he recalled something. I was supposed to meet the queen this morning? Are they serious? Various thoughts flashed through his mind, but none stuck and remained. They dispersed long before Percy could grasp what was going on. As the myriad of thoughts entered his mind and dispersed, Percy¡¯s eyes never diverted from the queen. This was insane. The tension in the air grew happier, and Percy was glad when Paul Reeze stepped forward. The Reeze Duke cleared his throat and turned around to speak to everyone. ¡°It¡¯s already late, and I think I speak for everyone when I say that everyone had a long day,¡± He turned to his wife and the queen and added, ¡°How about we return to the palace to talk there instead of the royal forest, your excellency? I think everyone would love to clean themselves and change into more comfortable clothes.¡± Percy wasn¡¯t comfortable with that suggestion, and he sought help with his gaze among the crowd of knights and other esteemed figures. However, not even Melissa could help him. If anything, Melissa Reeze looked the most shocked to Percy. Great. That was GREAT. At least I¡¯m alive and won¡¯t be killed anytime soon. That¡¯s good, I guess. The Queen nodded slowly but didn¡¯t look away from Percy. Not even once did she divert her attention from Percy. Her eyes got teary, but only Percy and the duchess could see that from their positions. Paul retrieved an ocean-blue crystal from his spatial ring and channeled mana into it. After a moment, the crystal glimmered brightly, and a man''s restless voice could be heard. ¡°Did you find¨C...¡± The voice¡¯s volume dimmed as Paul decreased the mana influx until only he could hear the man¡¯s voice. ¡°We found Sophia. Yes, she is fine. You can return to the palace. We will be there in a few minutes as well. Yeah, there is nothing to worry about, Your Majesty.¡± A few more words were exchanged but there was nothing important. Percy looked over to the Reeze Duke and gathered his courage to speak up. ¡°Can¡­Can I leave now?¡± He was sincerely hoping for a simple ¡®yes¡¯ in return because he wanted to run as far as possible at this very moment. The entire situation was too much for him. The unspoken truth was too much for him to handle. But before anyone could answer, Sophia intervened, ¡°Nooo! Why do you want to leave?!¡± The flood returned in her eyes, and she began crying bitterly. This child is driving me crazy! Percy swore in his mind, his expression distorting in pain. Still, he bent down again after swallowing the turmoil of emotions raging inside him with a deep sigh. ¡°We can play again in the future, okay?¡± He said calmly, wiping the tears trickling down Sophia¡¯s cheeks. Sophia was still sulking, but her ugly crying stopped. But someone else started sobbing next to him, replacing Sophia¡¯s bitter cries. Percy looked up, only to see the Queen crying, seeing Percy and Sophia acting like that. However, it was Melissa who breathed out heavily, seeing the princess and Percy like that. ¡°Like siblings¡­.¡± *** This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it. What am I doing here? Percy shook his head. He disliked the current situation but had complied nonetheless. Seeing the princess cry bitterly was already bad¡ªlike really, really bad. It felt like his heart was torn and twisted, but the situation was even worse with the Queen. Seeing the Queen, the ruler of the Kainech Kingdom, crying like this was scary. Percy didn¡¯t dare to deny Paul Reeze¡¯s suggestion to return to the palace and followed silently. Sophia was happy about that and embraced him tightly. She didn¡¯t want to let go of him, forcing Percy to pick up the young princess and carry her back to the palace in one arm. He was sure that wasn¡¯t the princess¡¯ normal behavior, which was affirmed by the hushed voice all around him, but Sophia squealed and complained whenever he told her to walk on her own. She wasn¡¯t short on excuses to have Percy carry her home and coiled her arms around his neck with enough strength to nearly strangle him when he ignored her excuses and was about to have her walk nonetheless. Only a few minutes passed after Percy gave in when Sophia fell asleep in his arms. She had been overly excited for most of the day, but it must have been exhausting for her. She left the palace at night, roamed through the royal forest, and collapsed when she was forced to summon the Kainesh Lion to protect her from a pack of Dwarven Wolves. The adventurous girl deserves some sleep. ¡°We can take the princess from here,¡± One of the servants offered before hurriedly adding a ¡°...sir.¡± The servant looked vigilantly at Percy as if expecting him to do something, but Percy nodded in agreement when the Queen didn¡¯t say anything. Sophia grumbled in his arms, but the servants managed to release the clingy girl after struggling for a good minute. Percy watched the servants leave with the sleeping princess before paying more attention to their destination. For the first time, Percy inspected the king¡¯s palace properly. The royal palace was a majestic structure atop a small elevation, rising above the surrounding landscape like a crown upon the earth. Built of pale stone, its tall, slender towers reached for the sky while their spires glinted in the moonlight with the kingdom¡¯s flags. The flags fluttered gently in the breeze, revealing the Kain house¡¯s symbol to the kingdom. The palace walls were adorned with intricate carvings depicting ancient legends of the kingdom. At least, that was what it looked like at first glance, but Percy could see much more with [Hawk Eyes] active. The palace walls were covered in hundreds of thousands of runic enchantments, which created the intricate carvings. The ancient legends of the kingdoms depicted in the carvings shrouded the truth. That the royal palace was covered in runic enchantments, transforming it into an indomitable fortress. From a distance, it looked like the royal palace floated above the capital, like a watchful protector looking down at the bustling city below. A wide stone staircase carved into the hill leads from the palace gates down into the heart of the capital, connecting the royal seat to its people. That was where they were headed. They emerged from the royal fortress in the back of the royal palace and reached a second staircase that led around the royal palace and into its heart from several positions. Percy had no idea what to expect but his heart was beating wildly. He had numerous questions but was also scared to blurt them aloud. Nobody was ready to ask any questions, even after the hushing voices of the knights and higher personnel disappeared. The Queen ordered them to return to their post or their rooms, which left Percy alone with the Queen and the Reeze family. They could have left Knight Liam or some other Glacia Knights for my emotional support¡­ He joked inwardly, but that wasn¡¯t enough to disperse his worries. He was still worried and felt increasingly more uncomfortable. The closer they were to the royal palace, the less comfortable Percy felt with the situation. Their group didn¡¯t take the main entrance to the palace but one of the entrances in the back. They walked silently through a large garden and entered the palace. The Queen turned around, her lips parted as if to say something, when a voice rang out from behind. ¡°Reina, you¡¯re back! Where is Sophia? Is she fine?!¡± A voice ¨C the same one who¡¯d spoken with Paul earlier ¨C rang out from behind. A young man around the Queen¡¯s age appeared seemingly out of nowhere. He was almost two meters tall and had a great physique. However, the most important feature of the young man were his azure-blue eyes. That was the King. Phillip Kain. He was breathing heavily and rushed to the Queen, embracing her tightly. He ignored everyone else and sighed in relief, seeing that the Queen was fine. ¡°Where is Sophia?¡± He asked again, a tinge of worry mixed into his voice when he saw how red the Queen¡¯s eyes were. ¡°She is fine and asleep. The servants brought her to bed,¡± The Queen calmed her husband, ¡°You can lecture her tomorrow. Today¡­Today is not a good day to be angry.¡± She turned back to Percy, a faint smile blossoming on her lips, ¡°Today is a good day.¡± The King followed his beloved¡¯s gaze and stared straight at Percy. His eyes squinted to tiny slits while the Queen spoke in a quivering voice. ¡°I¡­I don¡¯t know how¡­but¡­but I think it¡¯s him.¡± The King didn¡¯t say anything. He swallowed hard and narrowed his eyes even further. The King took a deep breath and nodded. ¡°Let¡¯s find out.¡± B2 Chapter 48 - Interlude: The Old King The fist of an old man crashed heavily onto a heavy wooden desk, shaking it thoroughly. ¡°So the assassins did not only fail miserably, but you also lost track of him¡­only for him to appear in the royal forest? Are you fucking stupid?!?! How could you lose that kid? It¡¯s not like he¡¯s a trained assassin!¡± The man cursed, his eyes glowing vividly. He pulled his long silverish hair back in a huff and stared deep into the twisting shadows next to him. ¡°We acted low profile and had problems using more than one-fifth of our network to avoid attracting attention, which is what you ordered, your Excellency,¡± The shadows hummed in return. There was only one voice in the air, but it felt like the shadows spoke in several voices simultaneously. ¡°Are you telling me your incompetence is my fault? You must be tired of living!¡± The old man thundered, silencing the shadows. The old man took a few deep breaths, calming his nerves, and looked at the shadows again. They hummed and rippled, but no one said anything for a while. The wrinkles in the old man¡¯s face distorted. ¡°Can you get rid of him before he reaches the palace? Once he¡¯s inside, we cannot kill him without attracting the attention of the entire kingdom. I don¡¯t think my idiotic son will leave him unprepared after failing his duty all these years ago.¡± He was trying to retain some of his calmness but failed miserably. There was no way he could have stayed calm since he heard that the child was still alive several weeks ago. ¡°The kid was found with the princess. We¡­¡± The old man¡¯s fight crashed heavily onto the desk again, leaving an imprint of his hand in the heavy wood. ¡°Useless.¡± He muttered, ¡°Useless!!¡± The shadow rippled again, but there was no response. Instead, the shadows dispersed in all directions when someone knocked on the office door. The old man was huffing in anger, but he swallowed his emotions and put on a farce, with a gentle smile replacing the anger and displeasure distorting his features. ¡°You may enter,¡± He said, his voice filled with kindness. This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings. Even if the shadows were still present, they would have difficulties believing that their lord was the same man now smiling at the servant entering the office. The old man¡¯s aura had changed entirely, from a vicious tyrant to a saint¡¯s. ¡°I apologize for interrupting you at such a late hour, Your Excellency, but I bring important news!¡± The servant opened the door to the office and bowed politely to the old man. ¡°You do not have to worry about interrupting me, child. I¡¯m always happy if someone comes looking for me. You know, the older I get, the more lonely this old man feels,¡± The old man responded with a smile before putting on a worried expression, ¡°But I guess you did not come here for no reason. Did they find my granddaughter? Is she fine? I hope she hasn¡¯t been injured!¡± The servant smiled genuinely at the old man and nodded repetitively. ¡°The princess has been found. She is fine and already asleep in her chambers. You no longer have to worry about her, Your Excellency.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good,¡± The old man sighed in relief, ¡°I was worried something bad happened to her.¡± ¡°But¡­, your excellency¡­¡± The servant was still smiling, sensing the princess''s importance to the old man, but the corners of her lips twitched a little. ¡°Is something wrong, my child? You can tell me. Please do not hesitate and tell me everything on your mind,¡± The old man urged the servant, who relented for a second before giving in. ¡°The princess was found in the royal palace with someone else. I do not know much about the man they found, but several colleagues told me the young man looked¡­just like King and the Queen.¡± The old man didn¡¯t react at first. He felt like cursing the mortal realm for what had happened but retained his smile. His eyes widened, and his jaw dropped to the ground. ¡°You mean¡­?¡± The old man shuddered, ¡°How old is this young man? Is he¡­could he be¡­sixteen or seventeen years old?¡± The servant didn¡¯t say anything, but she nodded slowly. A droplet of sweat trickled down her cheeks, but the old man feigned a vibrant smile upon seeing her reaction. ¡°This¡­This is impossible. He didn¡¯t die? This is a miracle!! " he exclaimed, jumping up from his chair. We have to tell the world. The Kainesh Kingdom was graced with a miracle. My grandson has returned!¡± A miracle, my ass. This is a disaster! The kingdom is doomed!! The old man cursed inwardly while retaining his smile. ¡°I have to see him!¡± The servant smiled again and nodded vigorously. ¡°As you command, Old King!¡± B2 Chapter 49 - Invitation Instead of proceeding to determine whether everyone¡¯s doubts were valid or if it all was just a big mistake, the King chose to postpone the grand final to the next day. ¡°I think we have a lot to talk about,¡± Phillip Kain said to Paul Reeze in a severe tone. Paul agreed with a simple nod. The Queen turned to Percy. Her lips parted, but she didn¡¯t say anything when she noticed how overwhelmed he was. She pressed her lips together and nodded slowly. ¡°I think it would be best if we continued tomorrow,¡± she mumbled and gestured to one of the servants. Bring Percy to one of the guest rooms and follow his wishes.¡± Something in the Queen¡¯s voice confused Percy, but he was too overwhelmed and tired to respond. The servant hinted a bow and gestured to Percy to follow him. It didn¡¯t take long before they reached the guest corridor. The servant pointed at a door and hinted a bow toward him as well, ¡°Call me if you need anything, sir.¡± ¡°That won¡¯t be necessary. You can leave,¡± Percy mumbled absentmindedly and entered the room. The room¡¯s interior was shocking, to say the least. The room was three times larger than the whole floor above the Dragon Lair shop and had much better furniture. First of all, the bed was massive. Six people of Percy¡¯s size could sleep in the bed without any issues. However, the bed was only the beginning. The furniture, every piece of it, was probably worth several gold coins. There was a high-quality nightstand engraved with an illumination rune, but Percy had never seen this kind of illumination rune. The runic enchantment had been altered, and some configurations had been added to it. Multiple similar runic enchantments spread across the room, allowing the residents to light up the room from everything. It was very interesting, and Percy would have studied them for a while to potentially alter the powers of his Ego in the future, but he was too tired. The only thing he did before crashing in the massive bed was to enter the bathroom, which was attached to the massive room. The bathroom was several times bigger than the Dragon Lair¡¯s storage room. Percy could have lived in the bathroom, given its shocking size. However, he was more interested in the furniture in the bathroom. There was a large porcelain bowl connected to a system of multiple runic enchantments with which one could flush away the waste to a different location, probably the sewer. ¡°Is that what they call a toilet?¡± Percy tilted his head, bending down before the toilet to inspect the runic enchantments. He was tired, but seeing a fully functioning runic toilet for the first time washed away his exhaustion. A little bit, at least. However, he was more interested in the distraction the runic toilet granted. He retrieved a small stone from his spatial storage and threw it into the bowl before activating one of the runic enchantments. Then, he watched a small whirlpool of water sweep away the contents of the bowl. His attention was pulled to a small cabin made of glass. There was a tub made of porcelain next to the glass cabin ¨C probably one of the advanced bathtubs Percy had heard about ¨C but the glass cabin was much more intriguing. It was a construct with far more altered runic enchantments, which Percy decided to use. He could roughly decipher the use of the glass cabin, given his basic knowledge of a bunch of runes, and removed his clothes before getting inside. Percy discovered the shower. *** Showering was a heavenly experience. Percy had never felt this clean before. It felt like he was reborn again. I guess I¡¯ll have to learn more about runic enchantments. Installing a shower on the second floor of the Dragon Lair shop was added to his priority list that night. But that was all that happened. Percy felt clean and crashed into the bed. He fell asleep right away even though his mind tried tormenting him again with doubts and worries. Fortunately, the pulling force of the massive bed was greater. He was pulled into deep slumber when his head hit the comfortable cushion. It was early morning when a knock on the door woke Percy. He shot up and was disoriented for a moment, What¡¯s going on? Who¡¯s attacking me? Where am I?! His head flicked around, analyzing the situation, and it didn¡¯t take long for him to come to a realization. If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Oh. I¡¯m at the palace. Right. I forgot about that part. So much happened yesterday. A few minutes of silence passed as Percy got up from the bed. He looked at the door, but since nobody had entered, Percy started stretching. Only after ten minutes of silence passed did the knock return. ¡°Yes?¡± Percy responded hesitatingly when he realized that servants wouldn¡¯t barge into his room just like that. ¡°May I enter, sir?¡± A servant, the same servant from the night before, asked. ¡°Of course. Come inside,¡± Percy responded. The servant entered the room but froze when he saw Percy stretching his body. Percy added a light morning workout like the one he did every morning before opening his shop. I hope everyone will be fine without me. Percy thought about the Demi siblings and Bert but shrugged it off. He trusted them and didn¡¯t think anything bad would happen today. ¡°The royal family invites you to join their breakfast, sir.¡± Percy stopped doing push-ups and got up. ¡°I will¡­¡± His stomach grumbled before he could finish the sentence, ¡°Join their breakfast, of course.¡± The servant looked at Percy up and down and cleared his throat, ¡°Do you wish us to prepare some suitable clothes, sir?¡± Percy looked down at his body to check his clothes. He was already wearing his best clothes. Was something wrong with them? Percy tilted his head before realization struck him. I should have bought another set of clothes for special meetings. Even if I wear expensive clothes, they start looking dirty and used if I wear them every day. Obviously, this is not fit to meet the royal family at the breakfast table. ¡°There is no need. I have something better to wear,¡± Percy said in a hurry, his cheeks burning red. This is so embarrassing! ¡°Of course, sir. I will leave you alone to change,¡± The servant said before his eyes drifted to Percy¡¯s sweaty body and the shower. I understand! Stop judging me with your looks! The servant waited outside while Percy took a quick shower. He dried his body with an incredibly comfortable towel while using [Consume] on Prosperity to check his clothes. [2000 Prosperity has been consumed.] [Ocean Velvet Tunic¡¯s fabric durability and material vividness have been improved.] [Refined Silverhorn Sheep Hose¡¯s toughness and material quality have been improved.] [Nobleman Shoes¡¯ dirt repellent and material have been tempered. Toughness has been improved, too.] [Hair Pin - Dragon Symbol -¡¯s Toughness, glow, and gemstones have been refined.] Percy could have improved a lot more, but he didn¡¯t. He stopped investing more Prosperity in his clothes because they looked much better than before already. If that was still not enough¡­so be it. He cleaned his shoes with a wave of mana and checked his other clothes for splatters of fat or food, but there was nothing like that. Percy didn¡¯t look perfect, not compared to the royal family, but there was no need for that. Faking who he was never worked well for him. If they didn¡¯t want him at their table because he didn¡¯t own any more tailored clothes for horrendous prices, Percy could leave. He left the room and ignored the servant¡¯s analytical gaze. ¡°That¡¯s better,¡± The servant mumbled, but he was about to say something else. However, Percy gestured to him to lead the way. There was no need to delay any further. *** The breakfast with the royal family started. Percy entered a massive hall with an unnecessarily long table and dozens of servants placed around the room. They looked like statues and Percy nearly missed them because their presence was close to nil. Several large chandelier descended from a seven-meter-tall ceiling and Percy would have nearly cursed. What a waste of money. I¡¯d rather use [Consume] on everything and earn a fortune to grow stronger while helping Bert, Louis, and Sabrina. But as long as it¡¯s not my money¡­who am I to tell them what to do with their fortune? Even though the table was massive, only three people were seated. The king sat at the right end of the table, and the Queen sat next to her. They were engaged in a heated discussion but stopped when the heavy double doors opened, revealing Percy. Meanwhile, Sophia was sleep-drunken and turned around absentmindedly, only to squeal aloud. ¡°You¡¯re still here!¡± I am. I¡¯d rather not be here, but I still am. That much is true. ¡°I hope you slept well,¡± The Queen interrupted her daughter before the princess could say anything else. The King chimed in, ¡°The Old King is not present, but he told me that he will welcome you later.¡± There was nothing weird about he King¡¯s comment, yet the comment about the Old King and him ¡®welcoming¡¯ Percy didn¡¯t sit right him. Something about it felt a little bit weird, but Percy''s thoughts were pulled toward something else. Everyone looked at him, including the servants. It was almost like they expected something from him. As if they knew everything about him. B2 Chapter 50 - Royal Breakfast Percy was seated opposite Sophia and around the corner of the Queen, who smiled at him. But he was tense and uncomfortable. How could he feel comfortable eating with the royal family? The servants didn¡¯t help him release the tension either. They treated him in an overly lovely manner, almost like he was more important than the rest of the royal family. That was enough to make his hair stand up to its end. He was given various utensils to work with as the food was brought to the dining table. I don¡¯t think I can eat a single bite. Percy thought, though his eyes lingered on the delicacies spread before him. There were too many dishes, and it didn¡¯t help that the [A Hunter¡¯s Smell] Augmentation enhanced his smelling sense passively. Percy was too tense to eat, but the banquet of delicacies on the dining table tore down his defenses. However, Sophia was the crucial piece. She tore down his hesitation when she started to eat like a starving bear. The princess was reprimanded several times for not paying attention to table manners, but the little girl acted like she couldn¡¯t hear her parents and instructors. She flashed Percy her white teeth and devoured far more food than someone her age should be able to eat. Percy started eating after a while. Observing the princess worsened his hunger, and he got started. Eat slowly and try not to do anything stupid. Okay?! He didn¡¯t know much about table manners, let alone about half a dozen similar-looking utensils, but he tried his best. It was difficult because his urge to stop restraining himself waned after taking the first bacon bite. The bacon melted in his mouth, surprising Percy. However, it was more dramatic when mana and something else trickled down his throat. A moment later, his body was overflowing with mana and vigor, but worse was the increased hunger that followed. The greed in his eyes was clearly visible, but Percy crushed the hunger. His hunger was like a ferocious beast, but Percy rang it down and pinned it to the ground. He continued eating, glad nobody said anything to him. I am doing fine, right? Percy wondered but didn¡¯t dare to look up, fearing the servants and everyone else would look at him in disgust. He was hungry and wouldn¡¯t let anyone take that away. More than half an hour must have passed before Sophia stopped eating. Percy noticed her gaze lingering on him, but he tried ignoring her. Unfortunately, that was as difficult as ignoring the King and the Queen, who had also started looking at him from the side after finishing breakfast. Percy made the grave mistake of looking up when the entire hall was uncomfortably silent. That was when he saw the King and Queen smiling at him. They smiled seeing him struggle eating slowly. Oddly enough, their smiles were far from teasing smiles. They smiled in a different way. ¡°Is it okay if I ask you some questions?¡± The Queen asked Percy suddenly. He was still not done but put his utensils down, ¡°Of course, Your Excellency.¡± ¡°You can continue eating if you¡¯re still hungry. I don¡¯t mind,¡± The Queen said with a tinge of sadness in her eyes, ¡°You do not have to call me ¡®your excellency¡¯ either.¡± But there was also something else in her eyes. She looked at him hoping and longing for something she had lost long ago. Percy nodded slowly and picked up the fork again. The delicacies somehow increased his hunger, and it felt like he could eat for several hours. ¡°Is your name really Percy? Do you remember someone calling you a different name?¡± That question was a little weird, but Percy answered it nonetheless. ¡°I was always called Percy and don¡¯t remember anyone calling me differently. Other than lazy bum and the usual stuff. I apologize if the answer is not up to yo¨C...¡± The Queen lifted her hand, ¡°Don¡¯t apologize. There is no reason for you to apologize.¡± The King looked at the Queen and gently patted her back. He looked over to Percy with a smile. ¡°Do you mind telling us your story? We are curious about your life and have many questions about it. Maybe your story will help us understand.¡± The meaning of ¡®understand¡¯ was more profound than it looked at at first glance, but Percy complied with the King¡¯s request nonetheless. There was no reason to hide his past. ¡°I don¡¯t mind, your maje¨C...¡± The King stared at him just like the Queen had looked at him earlier, and Percy swallowed his following words. The King nodded, satisfied with Percy¡¯s response, and motioned to him to start. That being said, Percy relayed his life in Raewood to the royal family. Yet, despite knowing that he didn¡¯t have to hide anything, Percy couldn¡¯t help but leave out some information about Old Greg. The pieces of information he left out might not be important at first glance, but Percy didn¡¯t want to tell the King and Queen everything about the old man who¡¯d raised him. He was still unsure what exactly was going on. Percy had a rough understanding of the situation, but there were still certain things that didn¡¯t make any sense. But the Queen seemed like a good woman. He wouldn¡¯t imagine her abandoning her child after seeing her like this. She was an emotional woman and very concerned about Sophia. The King had a hard and distant aura, something a king needed to rule a kingdom, but he smiled often at Percy and took great care of his wife and daughter. He was a good father. However, what surprised Percy, and probably everyone else in the dining hall, was when the king stood up to embrace him tightly and walked over to him¡­to embrace him. Percy stiffened in the king¡¯s embrace, and he didn¡¯t dare to breathe until the king released him from the tight embrace once again. Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon. ¡°We would like to be alone for a bit,¡± The King said to the servants. They were star-struck after seeing their king embrace someone other than their family. Something like that had never happened. Still, they followed the King¡¯s order, reached for the leftover food and empty plates, and left the dining hall in a hurry. Only the King, Queen, Sophia, and Percy were left. ¡°I don¡¯t think it''s necessary because we are certain about you, but I think you and others need hard evidence,¡± The King said in the dining hall while retrieving a head-sized orb from his spatial storage. It looked like the Mana Orb Percy used in Raewood¡¯s Guildhall. ¡°Oh, I know that one.¡± The King smiled, ¡°You must be mistaken this for the Mana Orbs that can be found in most Guildhalls. This one is a little different.¡± Percy was still stunned by the earlier embrace but his attention was drawn to the Mana Orb. ¡°Hmm,¡± He murmured while channeling mana through his eyes. He activated [Hawk Eyes] at the same time even if that wasn¡¯t necessary to see the mana streams of the Mana Orb conjure before him. All [Hawk Eyes] did was show him more details about the mana streams within the Mana Orb. Their thickness, the speed at which the mana streams circulated mana through the Mana Orb, and so forth. ¡°Do you want me to reach the obsidian-colored fragment in the center of the Mana Orb? That doesn¡¯t look too difficult,¡± Percy nearly added ¡®Your Majesty¡¯ but suppressed it before it was too late. The King realized Percy struggled with leaving the formality aside but didn¡¯t comment. ¡°You can see the dragon scale?¡± ¡°So that¡¯s what the fragment is,¡± Percy nodded. The royal couple looked at each other again and spoke to each other with their gazes. Percy glanced at the Queen and noticed she was already having difficulty expressing her emotions. ¡°That makes it easier. I want you to channel your mana into the dragon scale.¡± He handed Percy the Mana Orb and watched him intently. Percy was a little nervous, but the Mana Orb quickly occupied his full attention. He accessed his mana and willed it to surge into the orb with a simple mental command. His mana reserves, overflowing from breakfast, boiled, and an immense amount of mana surged through his arms and fingers into the Mana Orb. He willed the mana to take the most efficient mana streams to reach the dragon scale. Nothing special happened to the orb up until his mana fused into the dragon scale. Percy shuddered involuntarily when the orb started glowing vibrantly, and he nearly let go of it when a massive hologram conjured above the dining table. What in the seven hells¡­ Percy swallowed hard as the atmosphere in the dining hall intensified. But that was no surprise. The hologram showed a massive lizard with razor-sharp fangs, pitch-black claws, and emerald horns. Its massive leathery wings spanned across the dining hall, shrouding the royal family in shadows for a second. The hologram of a massive dragon with azure-colored scales suddenly filled the room above them. The massive creature circled over Percy, unleashing a primal roar that shook the dining hall¡¯s walls. ¡°You¡­have a vigorous one,¡± The King had to gather his thoughts for a second. The royal couple had been talking about this event the entire night and was certain of the unspoken truth, but having hard proof for their claim changed everything. He looked over to the Queen, who had already burst into tears, and added, ¡°Only a few people in the kingdom know of the Kain household¡¯s bloodline. Our bloodline is said to be special.¡± He cleared his throat. ¡°We are said to be special because our mana is incredibly pure. That is also why everyone can tell the members of the royal family apart from everyone else. We have unique eyes, after all. But the truth is not that simple. There is more to it,¡± The King announced to Percy, ¡°We are the offspring of a powerful dragon. A dragon¡¯s blood flows through my veins¡­but also through the veins of my offspring.¡± ¡°That¡¯s me! I am the daughter!¡± Sophia exclaimed, and the King swallows hard before adding. ¡°And you, Percy. You are my son.¡± Percy had known about this since he saw the king. They looked too similar for there to be no relation. The King and the Queen had been treating him too nicely, and there had been too many similarities between him and Sophia. Nonetheless, there was another doubt flashing through his mind. A doubt that had been torturing since he encountered the Queen. Am I the king¡¯s bastard? Is that why she has been crying so much since yesterday? ¡°No. You are not the child of an affair,¡± The Queen, as if she could read his thoughts, terminated his biggest worries right away, while the King nodded, ¡°The holograph is always a little bit different, you know.¡± He retrieved the orb, and Percy¡¯s vigorous azure dragon disappeared. A similar-looking dragon replaced his dragon. It was the king¡¯s dragon, which was larger but also calmer. However, the azure dragon¡¯s claws and horns were the most apparent differences. The king¡¯s claws were pitch-black, but a eerily gloomy hue shrouded the dragon claws, while its horns were also azure, just like the rest of its body. ¡°My mother manifested a powerful Ego that allowed her to transform her hands into demonic claws. It was a powerful Ego, but it corrupted her mind the more she used it. She liked fighting, but the more the corruption progressed, the more she started loving ¨C obsessing ¨C over fighting. She died on the battlefield.¡± Percy didn¡¯t know what to say, but the King shrugged lightly, ¡°My point is that my mother¡¯s bloodline affected the dragon¡¯s appearance. You remember your dragon¡¯s claws?¡± He nodded slowly. At last, the Queen spoke up, trying to control her emotions as the words escaped her lips, ¡°My Ego is related to herbs and nature. It isn¡¯t considered one of the strongest Egos in the kingdom but it is strong enough to alter my mana, granting me emerald green eyes. That¡¯s why Sophia¡¯s dragon has emerald horns¡­just like¡­¡± She couldn¡¯t finish the last words, and Percy needed distraction. He feared the final words, as if they would seal something. Or unleash the seal of something. ¡°I have seen someone with your eyes before,¡± He blurted aloud, seeking distraction. ¡°Do you mean me, by chance?¡± A familiar voice rang out. Everyone spun around, revealing a very familiar elderly woman who¡¯d just entered the dining hall. The Queen jumped up from the chair, ¡°Mother!¡± What the?! Now Percy¡¯s head was spinning for real. ¡°It looks like I should have waited with my arrival. I¡¯m confusing my grandson,¡± the elderly woman apologized, and Sophia rushed over to her. The princess squealed excitedly and embraced the elderly woman. It was the same alchemist who¡¯d sold cheap potions to him several times. Percy stared at her with wide eyes, only for her to snicker loudly, ¡°Don¡¯t look at me like that. I heard about you from Knight Liam and was very interested in the child with azure eyes, especially after hearing about the barracks explosion. I heard you were involved in them.¡± She winked at him, ¡°Little troublemaker. Looks like my guess about you was right!¡± Percy¡¯s jaw dropped to the ground. This had to be some kind of joke. ¡°You are my grandson. I¡¯ve already completed my tests,¡± She pointed at the dragon, ¡°And the royal family must have concluded their test as well.¡± ¡°You are the crown prince.¡± Percy shuddered, his hair standing up to its end. Was he actually the King and Queen¡¯s child? The same child who was supposed to be dead, sacrificed to a Devil by the Synther household? Percy felt like vomiting. B2 Chapter 51 - Devils Touch ¡°Have you heard the most recent news?¡± One of the servants in the royal palace looked at an older colleague, ¡°The crown prince has returned from the dead.¡± The old servant clicked his tongue, ¡°He didn¡¯t return from the dead. The crown prince was never dead.¡± ¡°You say that now! Before the crown prince returned, you said something else. Didn¡¯t you say that you saw the Devil the child! That the child¡¯s soul was taken by the Devil! Was all of that a lie?¡± The servant complained to his old friend. ¡°I saw the Devil marking the crown prince, but there is no way that I saw the crown prince¡¯s soul leave his body. I might be a Gifted One but I cannot see souls,¡± The old man responded in annoyance, ¡°But it is a fact that no servant saw the crown prince after the child had been marked. It was later that the royal family announced the crown prince¡¯s death. They were devastated, and the Queen didn¡¯t recover until Sophia¡¯s birth. Nobody suspected them of lying. Even now, I cannot imagine the royal family lying to us. I¡¯m certain the situation is a lot more complicated than we think.¡± The younger servant nodded slowly. ¡°Does anyone know what it means to be marked by the Devil?¡± a third voice asked, and the young servant turned around. The servant¡¯s eyes bulged, and he stammered, while the older colleague mistook the newcomer¡¯s voice for the younger servant¡¯s. ¡°The topic has been avoided and was considered nefarious, but rumors started to spread the day after the crown prince was marked. According to those rumors ¨C I don¡¯t know for sure if any of them are true ¨C the Synther household kidnapped the crown prince to use him as the sacrificial lamb to initiate a ritual to call upon the Devil. The information about the ritual was blocked, but I was one of the few servants on the King¡¯s side who rushed to the Synther household when we found out what was happening.¡± The old servant sighed deeply. ¡°Unfortunately, we were too late. The last thing we saw was the Devil ¨C a creature of untold horrors ¨C touched the crown prince. He was inflicted by the Devil¡¯s Touch.¡± The old servant commented, highlighting the last two words as if everyone was supposed to know what it meant. ¡°What exactly is the Devil¡¯s Touch,¡± The newcomer asked out of curiosity. However, instead of answering, the old servant spun around to lecture his colleague, ¡°We are not here to gossip. You should know that better than anyone after getting reprimanded for gossiping all¡ª....day¡­¡± The old servant¡¯s eyes widened slowly as he realized they weren¡¯t alone. But not only were they not alone, but the newcomer was an unfamiliar man with black hair that was pulled back and held in check by a beautiful dragon hair pin. However, the hairpin wasn¡¯t important. The newcomer¡¯s azure eyes were the crucial factor. ¡°Crown prince!¡± The old servant exclaimed, ¡°I am terribly sorry!¡± Percy lifted an eyebrow at that. The servant trembled like a thin branch in a typhoon. He was¡­afraid. ¡°Don¡¯t mind me, please. You were about to say something about Devil¡¯s Touch. What exactly does it mean to be marked by a Devil?¡± Percy inquired. He might have heard about the crown prince getting marked by a Devil but had been oblivious that the crown prince in question was none other than¡­him. I still don¡¯t get it. I don¡¯t feel princish. There is no way I am a prince, let alone the heir to the throne. I do not really feel like a devil touched me, either. Percy tilted his head with the last comment that flashed through his mind and figured he would have to take that back. Nevermind. My Ego has, quite literally, the grimace of a demon or devil on it. And the Lesser Demons ignored me when I unleashed the abomination of my Ego. Does that mean my Ego was altered by the Devil¡¯s Touch? Is that what it means? ¡°O-of, of course, Your Excellency,¡± The trembling old man answered after bowing several times to him. Percy suppressed a wince and the urge to shake the old man and beg the old man to treat him like a normal human being. Unfortunately, the last few days showed that this tactic was inefficient and created the opposite effect. The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement. ¡°D-Devil¡¯s Touch¡­means. It means that someone has been touched¡­touched by the power of a Devil, ¡°The old man stuttered, trying to regain his composure, ¡°In some old scripts, it is said that those affected by Devil¡¯s Touch are pursued by misfortune. But the misfortune will not only befall those affected. It will befall everyone close to the one touched by the Devil.¡± The old man had more to say but didn¡¯t stop trembling. Percy lifted his hand, which was enough to seal the servant¡¯s mouth. The rumors are getting worse. They haven¡¯t been this bad when I returned. I didn¡¯t feel particularly unlucky. I might have encountered demons twice, but there are more demons in the entire kingdom in the first place. Does that mean the rumors are wrong¡­or am I mistaken about something? Percy had been a little worried because nobody told him what happened after the Synther house kidnapped him. Nobody wanted to tell him what had happened, whereas the King and the Queen ¨C his parents ¨C tried to squeeze as many pieces of information as possible out of him. He didn¡¯t have to be a genius to understand that everyone was trying to hide something¡­or that they didn¡¯t know what happened. But that wouldn¡¯t make any sense. Right? His parents had to know what had happened. But then¡­shouldn¡¯t they know where he had been all this time? Too many questions flashed through Percy¡¯s mind, and none of them had been answered in the last few days. ¡°The Queen told me about a royal library,¡± That wasn¡¯t exactly the truth, but Percy didn¡¯t care at this moment. He heard someone talk about the library, so that is where he was headed, ¡°Where can I find it?¡± After wiping their sweat-covered foreheads, the servants motioned to him to follow. That was exactly what Percy did. He was led through several corridors ¨C most of them were new to him ¨C until they ended in a corridor with several massive gates. ¡°The mana here is stronger than elsewhere,¡± Percy murmured, ¡°I guess the largest gate leads to the library, but what are the other rooms used for?¡± ¡°One of the rooms is Sophia¡¯s training chamber. She learns to control her mana in the room left to the library gate, your Excellency,¡± The young servant answered in a hurry. ¡°To ensure Sophia doesn¡¯t have to run through the royal palace between the lessons,¡± Pery chuckled. That was cunning. Sophia wouldn¡¯t be able to escape her Instructors by using the complex infrastructure of the palace to her advantage. Once the study session was over, the librarian would bring her straight to the mana training chamber, where the other Instructor would be waiting for her. There was no escape. ¡°Emilia Dark¡¯s alchemy room is also located nearby. She dotes on her granddaughter and likes the library as much as her experiments. You can find her in this room,¡± the young servant points at an ivory door, ¡°Or in the library.¡± Emilia Dark was the elderly woman who¡¯d sold potions to him a few times already. She was also the Queen¡¯s mother and, therefore, his grandmother. That had been a bigger surprise than his being the crown prince everyone presumed to be dead. ¡°Thank you for helping me,¡± Percy said, hinting a bow. The servants paled at that and responded with an even deeper bow, ¡°We are overjoyed to be of your service! Don¡¯t hesitate to request our aid. We will be there for you, Your Excellency!¡± Percy pressed his lips together but nodded. He considered entering the royal library immediately, but his curiosity about his grandmother¡¯s alchemy lair was more significant. He approached the ivory door and knocked once. Nobody answered. He knocked again after a few seconds, but there was nothing. After knocking a third and fourth time, Percy gave up. He considered entering the room nonetheless but decided against it. I might be a little rude, but I know it¡¯s mannerless to do this. I can check this place later. Percy turned back to the library gates and approached them. He had to use considerable strength to push the gate open, but that was no issue. Percy entered the library once the gate was open. He closed the gate behind him and turned around, unraveling the majestic view of dozens, if not more than a hundred, shelves filled with books. Only the ceiling and the floor weren¡¯t covered in books. That wasn¡¯t the whole truth. Parts of the floor were also covered in books. The royal library was humongous, yet there was still not enough place to fit every book. That was shocking. ¡°It¡¯s a good thing Sophia is doing all that studying. I¡¯ll never be able to fit all of this into my brain;¡± He murmured, despite knowing that he would have to spend countless hours in this place whether he wanted to or not. Percy was fully aware of the importance of information. Knowing something had saved his life multiple times in Raewood, whereas being oblivious to other things nearly cost his life when he was around the Glacia Knights and Melissa Reeze. He could not escape the royal library after learning how crucial knowledge was first-hand. Still, Percy couldn¡¯t help but sigh. It was about time to study again. B2 Chapter 52 - Royal Library Since the revelation of Percy¡¯s identity several days had passed. It hadn¡¯t always been easy, especially with his parents asking numerous questions¡­questions he didn¡¯t have an answer to, but it worked out fine. He¡¯d told them almost everything he knew while also sharing his worries. That he didn¡¯t feel like the crown prince, let alone like it was just for him to be the rightful heir to the throne. Of course, it would help his Ego if he were to ascend the throne in the future, but that wasn¡¯t the right place for him to be. It felt wrong. Still, there were some useful perks he could use with his high status in the royal palace. Nobody asked any unnecessary questions. The servants followed his orders the moment the words left his lips. It could be that simple. ¡°Can I see the books related to the Devil¡¯s Touch?¡± Percy asked the royal librarian. It took him a while to find the young man, but all problems were solved once he found him. The royal librarian was a young man with bright brown eyes. He didn¡¯t seem older than the King, but something told Percy that the librarian was much older than it seemed at first glance. The mana coursing through him is so dense. He is definitely a Master¡­or did he already go beyond that Tier? Percy swallowed hard and felt like asking the royal librarian about his age and Tier, but didn¡¯t want to seem rude. Even if the royal librarian would probably answer most questions, there was no need to be rude. ¡°Of course, Your Excellency,¡± The royal librarian responded with a hint of a smile, ¡°You must be very interested in the past. We don¡¯t have many records of the Devil¡¯s Touch and most of them are sealed for obvious reason, but your status is high enough to look at them. Please do not leave the library with the records though. We do not wish to scare the public, especially given your special¡­circumstances.¡± Percy raised an eyebrow but nodded, ¡°You mean because I¡¯m marked by the Devil?¡± He touched the back of his head where he had a black mole that was covered by his thick hair. Before he found out that he was the crown prince and a victim of Devil¡¯s Touch, Percy didn¡¯t think much about it. However, he faintly recalled Old Greg telling him to never shave his hair and to keep the mole covered by all means. Now that I think about it¡­Old Greg knew about my identity, didn¡¯t he? He prepared an Awakening Stone for me, knowing I¡¯d need it and he prepared me for combat and other stuff. The only thing he messed up was teaching me common sense. Isolating me from other people wasn¡¯t nice either though. He would have loved to ask Old Greg a bunch of questions to solve the storm of emotions and questions tormenting his mind and mentality for the last few days. Unfortunately, the old man was dead. I miss you. ¡°You could say so, Your Excellency. We didn¡¯t know you were still alive, but if your identity comes to light, the factions working against your father might jump into action,¡± The royal librarian explained, ¡°You know that the Kainesh Kingdom has more problems with Demon sightings than the other kingdoms, right? Your father¡¯s enemies will say that this is your fault because of Devil¡¯s Touch. ¡°Some will propose to kill you, while others will demand your father to resign from his position because he endangers the kingdom with your presence. Their reasoning is simple, and even though it sounds ridiculous, we have no hard proof to refute the possibility of it being true. They will say the crown prince is connected to the entire kingdom, and thus, the Kainesh Kingdom is fated to cease to exist. After all, Devil¡¯s Touch ¡®curses¡¯ those connected to the target with misfortune.¡± That¡­is not what I expected to hear. Percy¡¯s expression distorted in discomfort and guilt. ¡°Nobody can prove whether this is true or not, but humans are known for giving their utmost to seek fault with others. They would never want to acknowledge that they did something wrong and will pick you as their scapegoat,¡± The librarian continued mercilessly. ¡°Thanks¡­¡± Percy responded sarcastically. This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it ¡°No problem,¡± The royal librarian smiled brightly at Percy, ¡°I¡¯ll bring you the information we have about Devil¡¯s Touch soon. Is there something else you need?¡± Is he acting ignorant, or is he actually like that? Still, he is nice. At least he is straightforward and doesn¡¯t try to hide the truth from me. I can prepare for the outfall now that I know what ¡®might¡¯ happen. Not that it makes everything better, though. ¡°I need information about the Devils and all known Demons. It would be great if you could fetch me some detailed books about Devils, though given the look you are giving me, I doubt there are many details about Devils. In that case, how about some books with compact information about all Demons and as much as you have about Devils?¡± Percy requested, and the royal librarian nodded. ¡°I would like to know more about the incident from¡­when was it? Sixteen years ago, or was I older? I don¡¯t know the exact date, but I¡¯m talking about the incident with the Synther house. Their kidnapping and their summoning of the Devil. I think you know what I mean.¡± The royal librarian nodded again. That meant they had information about the incident in the royal library. That was good since there wre still a few things that confused Percy quite a bit. ¡°I¡¯d also like to know more about runic enchantments. I don¡¯t know how much you heard about me, but my Ego helps me engrave runic enchantments on objects, but they¡¯re always the same. I would like to learn more about runic enchantments to see if I can adjust the Ego-engraved runic enchantments in the future.¡± The runic enchantments in his room ¨C he was not in the guest room anymore and had been given an even more extravagant place to sleep¡­the room he¡¯d occupied when he was a toddler, apparently ¨C were very intriguing. However, his Ego couldn¡¯t replicate the runic enchantments easily. Therefore, it was time for him to learn more about runic enchantments. ¡°I¡¯d recommend you to start with the basics. There are some Egos that help with the engravement of runic enchantments, but you should start from scratch to build a formidable foundation,¡± The royal librarian recommended. ¡°That sounds like a good idea,¡± Percy nodded. ¡°Do you need something else, or is that enough for the day?¡± For the day? Percy snickered inwardly but shook his head. ¡°I should be fine¡ª...¡± He stopped in his tracks, recalling something. I wanted to find out what exactly happened in the Glacia Knight Order¡¯s barracks, didn¡¯t I? Nobody had been paying much attention to it, which was weird. He¡¯d expected the head of the Glacia Knights or Paul Reeze to inform him about their investigation into the incident, but nothing came. As time passed, Percy forgot about the incident until Emilia Dark mentioned it again on the day Percy¡¯s life changed forever. For the Xth time. It was already weird to be attacked in the barracks of a Knight Order, but there was more to it. First of all, there had only been one assassin since he arrived in the capital. After that incident, nothing big happened again. That sounded logical, but it was odd, in Percy¡¯s opinion. The head of the Glacia Knight Order had also been¡­weird, to put it into simple terms. The head¡¯s attitude confused Percy, but maybe that was exactly what he had wanted. But the most confusing part was that Paul Reeze never mentioned the explosion again. The Reeze Duke didn¡¯t strike him as a hesitant man. It was the opposite. The Reeze Duke was decisive. Thus, it didn¡¯t make sense for him to lay low when it came to a direct attack of his Glacia Knights. The royal librarian was about to turn around when Percy stopped him. ¡°I still have one more thing I would like to learn about,¡± He said. The librarian turned back and nodded slowly. ¡°Do you know if there are any techniques that allow people to kill themselves by erupting with their mana, transforming their mana reserves into a storm, which erupts outward, creating a massive explosion?¡± The royal librarian¡¯s smile crumbled slowly the more Percy struggled explaining what kind of technique he wanted to learn about. ¡°What are you planning to do with such a technique?¡± The librarian asked sternly, the kindness on his face ceasing for the first time since he entered the royal library. Percy didn¡¯t see a reason to lie about the incident and summarized the incident, ¡°The day I arrived in the capital, the Reeze Duke allowed me to sleep in the Glacia Knight Order¡¯s barracks, but an assassin was already lurking in the shadows. I exposed him thanks to my Augmentations and would have killed him, but he summoned this weird storm from his mana reserves to kill himself.¡± The librarian was surprised, to say the least, but he nodded slowly and returned to the shelves. He prepared the books Percy had been asking for and excused himself a moment later. The librarian left the library with hurried strides. ¡°That was weird,¡± Percy mumbled but didn¡¯t pay more attention to it. Instead, he carried the books to a table were he sprawled them out. Percy picked the first one and started reading the first book with the title: [Royal Techniques]. B2 Chapter 53 - Revelation It felt like several hours had passed until Percy finally found what he had been looking for. Sacrifice Storm. So that¡¯s the technique the assassin used? Oh¡­wait? This is very interesting! The Royal Techniques book didn¡¯t teach him the techniques that can be studied in the royal barracks and other places subordinate to the royal house, but it described the most openly known techniques spread across the kingdom. The descriptions were detailed and advised certain Gifted Ones whether it would be useful for them to learn techniques or if they should never consider learning them. Some techniques were useful for melee fighters but were essential for Archers, Mages, or Healers, while others were the most suited to Rogues and Assassins rather than Guardians. Percy had to re-read the details about Sacrifice Storm several times to imprint everything deep into his mind. Unfortunately, he was interrupted when the gates to the royal library burst open. The gates were nearly ripped out of the hinges as the King and the Queen entered. They emerged in the royal library with hurried strides. ¡°Percy!¡± The King shouted while the Queen added, ¡°Where are you?¡± However, they found Percy before he could answer. The royal couple breathed heavily and stared intently at Percy. ¡°Is¡­something wrong?¡± He asked awkwardly. His relationship with his parents was still odd, but Percy knew Phillip Kain and Reina Kain were good people. He was fully aware of that. It was just that he wasn¡¯t having an easy time warming up to them since too many things happened in such a short time. ¡°A Shadow Assassin attacked you in the barracks?¡± Phillip Kain asked dead seriously. ¡°Are you talking about the royal family¡¯s assassins?¡± Percy asked while pointing at the page of Sacrifice Storm in the book he¡¯d just been reading. Only the assassins taught in the royal household were allowed to learn Sacrifice Storm. That was what Percy had discovered a few minutes ago. ¡°Yes, I was attacked by one of those Shadow Assassins when I first arrived in the capital. I reached the barracks of the Glacia Knight Order and entered my room only to find someone hiding in the shadows. I have a fairly strong Augmentation that helps me see the outlines of someone. He was holding daggers, and I nearly killed him when he used the Suicidal Storm if I¡¯m understanding this correctly,¡± Percy nodded, pointing at the same page again. ¡°But shouldn¡¯t you be aware of that already?¡± He asked, looking at the king, ¡°I¡¯m pretty sure Paul Reeze told you about the incident. Even if he didn¡¯t, someone would have reported the explosion in the barracks.¡± Reina glared at her husband, whose hardened features distorted into a wince, ¡°Paul was hesitant to go into detail when he reported the assassination. He didn¡¯t share much intel about you either, fearing you were a survivor of the massacre in the Sylther household. That was unlikely, but if I¡¯m being honest¡­it was more likely a member of the Sylther household to survive, maybe an unknown bastard, than¡­ for you to be alive¡­¡± ¡°Mother didn¡¯t tell me about you either. Nobody was certain who you were or where you belong to¡­¡± Reina tried to chim in after she recalled her mother¡¯s actions but realized that Percy might misunderstand her words, ¡°So Paul was afraid we would kill you to remove the Sylther household from the mortal realm? He tried protecting you and didn¡¯t report everything¡­¡± ¡°I will talk to Paul about this later,¡± Phillip Kain grumbled, and Percy could tell that the Reeze Duke was awaiting an uncomfortable discussion. ¡°I¡­don¡¯t want to jump to conclusions, but you¡¯re saying one of the Shadow Assassins attacked me. Doesn¡¯t that mean someone from the royal family tried to kill me?¡± Percy commented, trying not to sound hurt, ¡°There aren¡¯t many royal members anymore, or are they? So¡­¡± He couldn¡¯t finish his sentence, but the Queen¡¯s eyes widened in terror when she realized what he was hinting at. ¡°We. We would never¡­¡± Tears trickled down her cheeks, but there was also anger in her eyes¡­anger toward whoever dared to hurt her little baby¡­again, ¡°Never!¡± The King¡¯s eyes hardened again while his mind rattled wildly, ¡°Can you tell us who raised you? We have been talking around this topic for a few days now and I think knowing the name of the man who raised you might be the answer to everything.¡± Percy swallowed hard, ¡°You think you know him, don¡¯t you? I was never actually dead, and you¨C...¡± If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. The royal couple shook their heads, and the king sighed deeply. ¡°I think we might know who took you, but I cannot be certain until you tell us. As for the second part¡­ we never knew for sure. We were busy dealing with the border issues near the Beastlands when the war with the Beastmen was at an all-time high at that time. When we returned¡­everything was already over. We found dead Shadow Assassins everywhere. They had been ordered to protect you and died for your sake. At least, that¡¯s what we¡¯ve suspected for a long time.¡± Reina cleared her throat and added, ¡°We think the man who raised you took you away and somehow managed to isolate you from the Oracel¡¯s visions. I can see you now. In fact, the Oracles can now see everything about you from the day of your Awakening. Everything other than the man who raised you.¡± Old Greg tried to hide me from everyone¡¯s view. He wanted everything to think of me as dead¡­Is that it? ¡°Is this related to Devil¡¯s Touch?¡± Percy asked suddenly, and both the King and the Queen went silent. ¡°You know more than you¡¯re willing to say,¡± Percy grumbled, ¡°You¡­are already suspecting someone, aren¡¯t you?¡± The silence was ear-deafening, but he could also see the guilt in their eyes. Percy hated this silence more than anything. Even finding out about his family hadn¡¯t been this unpleasant. ¡°The man who raised me was Greg. He is also the one who taught me ever¨C...¡± The silence dispersed in an exclamation from the King, ¡°Gregory Fineastar?!¡± The royal couple¡¯s eyes widened, and even the librarian who had been silently listening looked surprised. However, Percy had no idea if old man Greg¡¯s name was actually Gregory Fineastar. ¡°Gregory was one of the best, but Father told me that he died in the massacre. His¡­corpse was never found, but enough blood to tell that he was¡­ Oh no¡­¡± The King''s expression changed into one of fury, and a massive wave of mana erupted from his insides. The library shelves around him trembled violently. ¡°How dare he?!?¡± Phillip roared, spinning around to charge out of the library. Percy was not quite sure what was going to happen now, but what he could tell was one thing. Blood would cover the palace grounds today! *** Following the King wasn¡¯t easy but he left enough trails behind on his carnage. Phillip Kain wasn¡¯t even trying to act subtly. He stirred awake everyone in the royal palace with the mana gushing out of him. Percy, his mother, and the royal librarian rushed after the King, who left behind enough trembling servants, who pointed in the direction the King went when they rushed past them. Percy wasn¡¯t weak by any means, but his mother and the royal librarian were much stronger and faster. They were either at the Master Tier or higher. Still, he tried his best not to lose them. Not even one minute into their charge through the palace, Reina and the librarian slowed down. Percy was breathing heavily as he arrived beside them. ¡°Where¡­¡± He gasped for air, ¡°Where are we?¡± ¡°That¡¯s the Old King¡¯s office,¡± Reina said, shuddering, ¡°Your grandfather¡¯s office.¡± The doors to the Old King¡¯s office were wide open but nobody dared to enter. The sound of pained groans rang out of the office, followed by a squishy noise, and a scream. Percy glanced inside, his eyes widening when he saw his father¡¯s fist smashing heavily into an old man¡¯s face. That old man was none other than the Old King. Phillip Kain¡¯s father Blood splattered everywhere, but Phillip didn¡¯t stop. His arm pulled back, and he punched the Old King again. Several arms shot forward to refrain the King from killing his father on the spot. It was only then that Percy noticed how many people were present in the Old King¡¯s office. Half a dozen older men and women were in the room. Everyone was, at least, at the Master Tier. Despite that, nobody could contain the King¡¯s fury. He was too strong. The scene unfolding before Percy was shocking, to say the least. ¡°Stop this mess, darling!!¡± The Queen shouted, but the King didn¡¯t listen to her. It was only when Percy spoke up that something clicked in the King¡¯s mind. ¡°What is going on here?¡± The King released his father, pushing him back into his chair, before turning around. The fury in Phillip¡¯s eyes didn¡¯t wane but seeing his son calmed him a little. He regained just enough composure to stop before he¡¯d end up killing the Old King by chance. ¡°He¡¯s the one.¡± That was all the King said. As if that was everything everyone needed to know. Nobody responded to Phillip¡¯s claim, infuriating the King once again. The Old King groaned in pain, to which Phillip responded with another punch in the face. ¡°You used Gregory to kill my son, didn¡¯t you?!?¡± Phillip roared, the presence of a dragon surging out of the King. ¡°I¨C....¡± The Old King said, but Phillip¡¯s roar swallowed the Old King¡¯s words. ¡°But Gregory didn¡¯t follow your order, didn¡¯t he? He disobeyed your orders for the first time since he joined the Shadow Assassins. Your actions forced him to kill the Shadow Assassins, who would have followed your order without hesitation¡­without mercy. Your actions¡­forced Gregory to take away our child!!¡± B2 Chapter 54 - Punishment It was simple. It really was. The Old King was afraid. He didn¡¯t fear his son even after Phillip beat him violently. No, the Old King was afraid of what would happen to the kingdom his ancestors founded hundreds of years ago now that Percy was still alive. He was scared that Devil¡¯s Touch would destroy everything. ¡°He¡­is not supposed to be alive,¡± The Old King groaned in pain and was spitting out blood. The King saw red when he heard that, but the old men in the office stopped Phillip before his fist could smash into his father¡¯s face once again. ¡°Everyone told you to kill him after the Devil marked him, yet you didn¡¯t do anything. You tried to seal him away, hiding him from everyone¡­ignoring the great misfortune you invited with your actions,¡± The Old King continued, ¡°I might not have been the King at that time, but you weren¡¯t strong enough to sacrifice your child for the great good. As the former king of the Kainesh Kingdom, I am still responsible for my citizens. They deserved to be freed of Devil¡¯s Touch influence. That¡¯s why I had to make a choice. It wasn¡¯t easy, you know? Still, I did what I had to do.¡± The Old King ignored his son¡¯s outburst of anger. Even his roar was ignored by the Old King as he glanced at Percy. ¡°My son had ordered dozens of Shadow Assassins to protect you all day around, but I changed their order. I convinced the Shadow Assassins that you had to die. Gregory didn¡¯t like that. He killed the Shadow Assassins when he realized that they would attack and kill you. To be honest, I thought you and Gregory died escaping. Your father must have told you about the Oracles already. If he didn¡¯t, that would be fine, too. The Oracles couldn¡¯t find you or Gregory, which is why I was certain of your deaths. But, apparently, they were wrong. I don¡¯t know how Gregory did it, but he had the means to hide both himself and you from the Oracles.¡± The Old King sighed. ¡°But when I heard about an azure-eyed child traveling with the heiress of the Reeze house, I immediately knew the Oracles were mistaken. I tasked them to look for you again. You can probably imagine my surprise when they found you this time. I knew you were back, but there was no way to kill you without attracting attention. That is ¨C...¡± No more words escaped the Old King¡¯s lips as Phillip escaped the restrainment of the old men. His fist crashed into the Old King¡¯s face, dislocating his jaw. ¡°You monster!¡± The bittersweet truth unfolded slowly in the Old King¡¯s office, and understanding dawned upon Percy. He was angry at the Old King and his grandfather, even furious, but it wasn¡¯t like his life with Greg had been that bad. Percy had been raised in isolation, but not everything had been bad. Why does it feel odd to think of it as a blessing? Being raised poor helped me a lot. I don¡¯t want to be as obnoxious as nobles, and I certainly don¡¯t regret having made friends with ¡®ordinary¡¯ people. Would it be the same if I had been raised as the crown prince? No, it wouldn¡¯t. I might not want to acknowledge it, but I would probably judge poor people and utter nonsense without knowing the difficulties they¡¯re going through. Percy knew he was still far from perfect and that he had a lot to learn, but being forced to acquire power and earn money to survive taught him a lot. It showed him how important union was and that, despite not everyone being the same, humans needed each other. They could help each other and grow stronger ¨C better ¨C together. What¡¯s the use of beating him? Percy asked himself, looking at the bloody mess before him. This is insane. I want to make a change. I¡­don¡¯t want to be like the Old King. He should be angry at his grandfather for trying to assassinate him twice. He did not merely threaten to kill him. No, the Old King ordered his death. And it would have succeeded if Gregory didn¡¯t show mercy on Percy when he was a toddler or if Percy hadn¡¯t seen the Shadow Assassin in the Glacia Knight Order¡¯s barracks. Still, the Old King didn¡¯t seem like he was lying when he said that he did it for the Kingdom. The fear in the Old King¡¯s eyes was genuine as well, but he was clearly not afraid of his son. The Old King was willing to kill his grandson for the greater good of the kingdom. Percy could acknowledge that reasoning, but he wouldn¡¯t accept it. He walked inside the office, his footsteps resounding in the room. Percy retrieved a potion from his spatial ring and ignored the onlookers ¨C mostly his father and the older men ¨C around him as he gave the potion to the Old King. It was one of the Ego-enhanced Regeneration Potions that Percy had prepared for emergencies. This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Normally, I wouldn¡¯t give this to you, so be happy and drink it! Percy nearly commanded, but he held back. The situation was too important to mess up. Of course, he didn¡¯t like that he was nearly assassinated twice, but killing the Old King or sending him to the High Court wouldn¡¯t help anyone. On the contrary, it would tear everything apart. The nobles would be split between loyalty to the former King ¨C almost every old noble served the Old King before ¨Cand loyalty to the current king. However, the greater problem was that everyone would understand the Old King¡¯s reasoning and consider it courageous to be willing to sacrifice his grandson for the greater good of the kingdom. In the meantime, Phillip Kain might end up getting called out as a cowardly traitor who considered his son¡¯s life more important than the well-being of the Kainesh Kingdom. Percy did not want the situation to escalate more than it already did. The main issue is that the Old King is acting without hard proof. Nobody can say for sure whether the Devil¡¯s Touch is actually a curse or just a bad omen¡ªa warning¡ªof the future awaiting them. There is no proof. Unfortunately, even without any hard proof, it was a fact that lots of shit happened to Percy since he gained access to mana. It was almost like Devil¡¯s Touch attracted danger. That was why Percy decided to do something he wouldn¡¯t normally do. He decided to forgive the Old King and give him a second ¨C No¡­ A third, or was it the fourth(?) ¨C chance. ¡°I think you punished him enough,¡± Percy told his father, but Phillip Kain was still furious. The more Phillip thought about it, the angrier he felt: ¡°I am still not done with him, Percy!¡± Percy¡¯s eye twitched. He had considered his father a hardened man who could control his emotions, but that must have been a mistake on Percy¡¯s side. Phillip Kain was anything but calm and composed when it came to people hurting those he loved dearly. ¡°Yes, you are done,¡± Percy responded, but this time with more authority. His mana rippled as he activated [Berserk] for the first time in weeks. His mana boiled and churned through his body. Simultaneously, [Frostbite] was activated, instantaneously decreasing the room''s temperature by several degrees. The King stopped and looked up in surprise. He stared into his son¡¯s eyes, only to see something he hadn¡¯t seen for a long time. ¡°The Azure Dragon¡¯s authority,¡± The Old King mumbled, his swollen eyes widened in surprise. Percy had been running away from his rightful title and avoided his family, but that was over now. He was tired of avoiding others. If they couldn¡¯t accept him for who he was, so be it. Therefore, he accepted himself for who he truly was for the first time. He accepted the blood running through his veins and the role that belonged to him. Percy was certainly too weak to fight his father, but he was tired of all the trouble. ¡°I am the one who was nearly killed twice through my grandfather¡¯s orders. Isn¡¯t it my right to punish him?¡± Percy asked dead serious, [Hawk Eyes] helping him endure the King¡¯s furious stare. Phillip squinted his eyes, which were still filled with anger. He groaned but nodded slowly, acknowledging Percy¡¯s claim. ¡°Do you want to beat him up instead?¡± Is violence the only thing you can think of? Percy wondered, shaking his head. ¡°No. I don¡¯t think that¡¯s necessary,¡± He asked while turning to the Old King. His grandfather was breathing heavily but he emptied the viscous content within the Regeneration Potion, improving his condition quickly. ¡°Can you stop sending assassins after me, please?¡± He asked the Old King but proclaimed the punishment without waiting for an answer, ¡°As for the punishment¡­. How about I can pick out one treasure for every time you tried killing me? That would be two treasures from your collection.¡± He was still a bit angry at the Old King and was having a hard time staying calm, but the thought of taking some of the Old King¡¯s treasures made him happy. The Old King was a few hundred years old and should have amassed some very valuable treasures. If I pick something incredibly expensive, I can convert it into Prosperity, reach the Master Tier from consuming the object in the first place, and have enough Prosperity left to create dozens of Master Artifacts and enhance my Monster Cards! His business would be booming as long as Percy made the right choice. But even if he picked some useful items that would help him long-term, Percy would have no problem taking care of his business. The Dragon Lair would expand whether he was the crown prince or not. His status didn¡¯t matter in that regard. ¡°Hmm¡­That makes sense,¡± Reina murmured, her eyes twinkling dangerously. Percy could tell how much his mother wanted to kill the Old King at this very moment. But instead of killing him, she decided to take as much from the Old King as possible. After all, she knew from her mother how much it would help Percy, ¡°It¡¯s only fair if the Old King gives Percy something expensive since he gifted Sophia the Kainesh Lion for her sixth birthday.¡± She stared threateningly at the Old King, ¡°You have many presents to prepare for the birthdays you¡¯ve missed!¡± Reina deliberately didn¡¯t call the Old King with his title and turned to her husband. A smile replaced the turmoil of emotions ravaging her, ¡°We have many birthday presents to make up for as well, don¡¯t we?¡± Percy¡¯s lips parted to say something, but he noticed his mother¡¯s gaze and kept his lips sealed. That¡¯s not what I wanted¡­not that I¡¯d reject any gifts. But that wasn¡¯t my intention! B2 Chapter 55 - Doubts The office was cleaned by servants, who were surprised to find blood all over the desk and walls of the Old King¡¯s office. Rumors would spread soon enough, but nobody would know the whole truth. Everyone present promised to keep silent about what had happened because the avalanche that would follow the revelation was not something anyone wanted to handle. Sometimes it was better to keep silent. That included today¡¯s incident. ¡°Your majesty, you are already late for your next appointment,¡± The royal librarian said in a neutral tone, ¡°I will carry out the punishment and ensure the crown prince will reach the Old King¡¯s treasury unscathed.¡± Phillip was about to say something, but Percy was faster. ¡°I will be fine¡­father.¡± It was the first time Percy called the King father. That was enough to crush his defenses. He nodded slowly and accepted Percy¡¯s wishes even though he couldn¡¯t trust his father anymore. But his son should be fine with the royal librarian. The Queen nodded reluctantly as well. She had been busy when the royal librarian called them to inform the royal couple what he heard from Percy about the assassin in the barracks and Sacrifice Storm. She had to return as well. They¡¯re worrying too much. The Old King is not as strong as he looks like. I should be stronger than him, given his messed up mana system. Percy was not afraid. If anything, he was very calm and felt incredibly good right now. What exactly happened to his mana system in the first place? It looks terrible. There was no need to activate [Hawk Eyes] to perceive the mess within the Old King¡¯s body. The Old King circulated mana through his body to spread the healing concoction of the Regeneration Potion, but it was a mess. The former king wasn¡¯t efficient with his mana circulation at all. If anything, it was crude and looked like a rookie¡¯s work. He is not a rookie, though. The Old King is not weak either. No, he was not weak in the past. Now he is, though. A body revealed countless untold stories. Every scar was a tale, some smaller and less significant, whereas others revealed heroic tales. That was also how Percy recalled some stories about the Kainesh Kingdom. Stories he¡¯d read in Raewood¡¯s Guildhall ¨C the library on the second floor ¨C when he didn¡¯t know anything about the kingdom or his heritage. Ohhh! ¡°Do you think it would have changed everything if I died sixteen years ago?¡± Percy asked out of nowhere as they walked through the corridors. The royal librarian turned around, only to see that Percy¡¯s attention lingered on the Old King. ¡°Even if you ask me like that, I still stand for it. Your death would have changed a lot,¡± The Old King said, ¡°Gregory might have isolated you for a while, which must have slowed the process, but the Demon sightings and the appearance of Demonic Gifted increased by a few times in the last few years. That¡¯s a fact.¡± The Old King looked at Percy properly for the first time, ¡°I don¡¯t have anything against you personally, kiddo. It¡¯s just that I don¡¯t want the Devil¡¯s Touch to destroy the kingdom. The Kain house sacrificed too much to cease to exist because of something like that.¡± ¡°Are you certain?¡± Percy asked, ignoring the glint in his grandfather¡¯s eyes. ¡°What?¡± ¡°I asked if you are certain that the Devil¡¯s Touch is at fault for the increased Demon sightings and the appearance of the Demonic Gifted. Knight Liam, one of the oldest members of the Glacia Knight Order, told me that the number of Demons sighted in the mortal realm increased steadily for a long time already. But do you know why they¡¯ve been increasing?¡± He asked, yet Percy didn¡¯t wait until his grandfather answered. ¡°No, you don¡¯t know for certain. You cannot be sure everything is the Devil¡¯s Touch fault or the fault of the mark the Devil left behind on my body,¡± Percy declared, his voice as hard as his eyes, ¡°What if the Devil¡¯s arrival was just a warning? What if the Demon corrupted the mind of the Synter house¡¯s patriarch or if other Demonic Gifted were involved? WHAT IF your last fight with the Devil is the reason they¡¯re coming after the royal family?¡± The Old King was surprised but Percy wasn¡¯t done just yet. ¡°Didn¡¯t you injure one of the Devils two hundred years ago? You beat the Devil, humiliated him. What if he used the last two centuries to recuperate from the wounds you¡¯ve inflicted while invading the mortal realm with bits and pieces of his power? He had two centuries to devise a plan to take revenge on you, to gather his forces and make it seem like the Seven Hells gave up on the mortal realm just to destroy what you hold dearly,¡± Percy said, ¡°Can you be 100% certain all of this isn¡¯t your fault? You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version. At this point, even the royal librarian looked at him with a tinge of surprise in his eyes. The librarian glanced at the Old King, whose mind was rattling wildly. Not a single word of defense escaped the Old King¡¯s lips. He didn¡¯t have an excuse because it was impossible to be certain that Percy was wrong. What if he was right? I got you! Percy declared inwardly, the corner of his lips twitching. He had to suppress his smile and cleared his throat to gather his thoughts for a moment. ¡°You were strong enough to fight a Devil, and you¡¯ve sustained a severe injury. At this point, you are no stronger than a Master Tier. You can no longer use Monster Cards, and you¡¯ve lost access to your Ego. I could probably beat you, given your condition. Still, you were once one of the strongest beings in the mortal realm.¡± Percy stared coldly at the Old King. ¡°Tell me then. Tell me you are 100% certain, with your vast experience and great wisdom, that the Devil¡¯s Touch is at fault for everything. That if I had died years ago, the Kainesh Kingdom wouldn¡¯t be attacked by Demons and Demonic Gifted because our relationship with the Devils of the Seven Hells is so GREAT. Tell me and I will end it all!¡± Percy retrieved a dagger from his spatial ring and pressed the blade tightly against his neck. The royal librarian gasped in surprise and was about to make a move, but Percy was still not done. ¡°I don¡¯t want to be the cause of the Kingdom¡¯s downfall and I don¡¯t think I will cause it any harm. If anything, I will beat the shit out of the Devil if he dares to step foot in the mortal realm. Who the hell does he think he is?!¡± Percy cursed, his eyes glimmering even more dangerously as the blade cut into his skin until a bleed streamed down the blade. Droplets of blood trickled onto the ground, but Percy didn¡¯t show any signs of stopping. The Old King looked deep into Percy¡¯s eyes for a while until he sighed in defeat, ¡°Stop.¡± He winced, but something in his eyes glimmered. It was almost like something that had been lost for decades finally returned to him. ¡°You are just like me,¡± He mumbled, ¡°That¡¯s probably even worse than the Devil¡¯s Touch.¡± That¡¯s not supposed to be a compliment, right? Right?! Percy shuddered, but the hint of a smile on the Old King¡¯s face stopped him from saying anything stupid. ¡°I sure hope you can help the kingdom in the future since killing you isn¡¯t an option anymore.¡± That was true. If the Old King orchestrated his death, his parents would surely kill the Old King. They would ignore everyone¡¯s advice and tear his grandfather apart. The aftermath would be devastating, possibly destroying the Kainesh Kingdom from the inside. The Old King didn¡¯t want that to happen either. Therefore, choosing the smaller evil, the Old King decided it was fine to leave Percy alive. At least, that was what it looked like. Percy wouldn¡¯t lower his guard in front of the Old King just yet, but he didn¡¯t feel threatened by his grandfather. If anything, he understood the old man. To a certain extent, at least. ¡°I am too weak, and your father doesn¡¯t progress fast enough. He is too busy with his duties as the king to grow stronger as fast as he used to. On the other hand, you¡¯re progressing rapidly,¡± The Old King said, revealing the second reason he decided not to kill Percy anymore. If Percy could progress fast, he might be able to help protect the kingdom. ¡°I gathered enough information about you to hunt you down,¡± The Old King glanced at Percy and shrugged lightly, ¡°Don¡¯t look at me like that.¡± He cleared his throat, ¡°Either way if I cannot kill you, I have to ensure you¡¯ll be strong enough to beat up some Devils instead. Fortunately, you have been progressing quickly since you¡¯ve manifested your Ego. Your mana is also perfectly pure, meaning the Devil¡¯s marking didn¡¯t reach your mana system.¡± So instead of killing me to escape all problems, he wants to strengthen me in an attempt to force me to fight all problems head-on to¡­protect the kingdom? Percy nearly laughed aloud at the hypocrisy, but it was also interesting at the same time. A smile blossomed on his lips, and he stretched out his hands, ¡°Can you give me a bunch of gold for a moment? Don¡¯t expect me to return it to you.¡± The Old King frowns and slows down. He stopped, forcing the royal librarian to stop and turn around as well. ¡°What are you doing?¡± The Old King asked but Percy didn¡¯t say anything. His grandfather snickered but he retrieved a large pouch filled with gold. That¡¯s what I consider wealthy. Throwing around pouches filled with gold coins! Percy reached for the gold pouch with the same smile but frowned lightly when no interface popped up, so he repeated what he said before, ¡°Don¡¯t expect me to return the gold to you.¡± ¡°I am no¨C...¡± The Old King retorted, but Percy stopped him right there. ¡°You are. Please stop considering the gold as your property.¡± [164x Gold Coins ¨C Ordinary ¡ª 1,804,000 Prosperity] ¡°Thank you,¡± Percy flashed his white teeth at his grandfather, who could only raise his eyebrow. ¡°Now watch and see!¡± He said and activated [Consume] to devour everything in one go. The abomination stirred awake and burst out of his palms. B2 Chapter 56 - Treasury The abomination moved before the royal librarian or the Old King could move. It engulfed the big pouch filled with gold and rapidly swallowed the coins before retracting again. All that was left was an empty pouch. [164x Gold Coins have been consumed. 1,804,000 Prosperity has been added.] The Old King had been more generous than Percy had been hoping for, but the Prosperity added by consuming 164 gold coins was still not enough to push him to the next rank. That was unfortunate, yet it couldn¡¯t be considered a major problem. Percy used [Consume] on Prosperity to invest into his Tier. [805,242 Prosperity has been consumed.] [Your Tier increased by one rank] His Tier reached Elite-9, which was followed by a massive influx of mana. Percy¡¯s pores opened to embrace the mana flood and annex as much as possible at once. Mana Shaping didn¡¯t let Percy wait long, either. Under normal circumstances, he would be hungry and searching for highly nutritious meals at this moment, but he had been feasting on highly nutritious food for the last few days. He was already overflowing with enough nutrients to support the natural Mana Shaping process. His mana reserves expanded, and he grew stronger at that moment. Both the Old King and the royal librarian noticed that right away. ¡°You¡­just ranked up,¡± The Old King murmured. ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°Using gold. My gold,¡± His grandfather muttered, but Percy shook his head. ¡°It was your gold before. It was mine when I used it.¡± ¡°Bu¨C... Yes, of course. You told me to waive my right of possession. So that¡¯s it? You can¡­Oh, that¡¯s great!¡± The Old King¡¯s smile widened as he realized what had just happened. The abomination caused his hair to stand up to its end due to various reasons, but he focused on Percy and his Ego instead, ¡°What else can you do?¡± That was when the last remnants of the Old King¡¯s plan to kill Percy were thrown out of the window. There was no need to kill Percy anymore. This was perfect! *** The treasury was well-hidden, as expected. It was hidden deep underground behind several heavily guarded corridors, which were also engraved with hundreds of runic enchantments. The only time Percy saw more runic enchantments were the engravings on the palace walls. He had still no idea what the intricate carvings of the palace walls ¨C the tens of thousands of connected runic enchantments ¨C were used for. Either way, the Old King had to guide everyone through the underground corridors and undergo various tests, even though it was obvious that he was the Old King and obliged to enter the royal treasury, where his personal collection was hidden alongside the kingdom¡¯s other treasures. Percy quickly realized the Old King could have pushed him onto a pressure plate or a string connected to several runic enchantments¡­or just done something else to kill him in the heavily guarded corridor. It should have been easy for the Old King. Fortunately, he didn¡¯t do that. The Old King reached the massive gates to the entrance of the treasury and cut his palm to drench a particularly dim and gloomy runic enchantment with his blood. ¡°You can open the gates as well. I wouldn¡¯t recommend you to come here alone, though. Not until you know every trap and runic enchantment installed in the underground corridors,¡± The Old King lectured, but Percy didn¡¯t hear anything his grandfather said. His attention lingered on the blood-soaked runic enchantment and the *click* resounding through the corridor once the runic enchantment was filled with the Old King¡¯s blood. The gates to the treasury opened, unraveling the kingdom¡¯s treasures. The room was gloomily dark, but this was solved quickly as dozens of torches ignited simultaneously. Percy swallowed hard at that but tried to act unimpressed. The vibrantly flickering torches cast light all over the large room, illuminating piles of glittering gold coins overflowing from wooden chests. Some gold coins scattered loosely across the floor in shining heaps. But that was only the beginning. There were ornate shelves and strong, carved tables displaying various treasures from across the Kainesh Kingdom and beyond ¨C gilded crowd studded with jewels, gem-encrusted goblets engraved with various runic enchantments, fine silverware, and intricately designed armor ¨C they weren¡¯t enchanted. In the corners, Percy found various tall racks wearing and carrying Artifacts. There were powerful Artifacts exuding far more mana than Percy could contain at a time, and ceremonial weapons, each adorned with precious gemstones. Precious gemstones ¨C Moonstones, Sunrays, Sapphires, rubies, emeralds ¨C were kept in smaller, finely engraved wooden boxes. He also found various rare fabrics neatly stacked, ancient scrolls, royal seals and a few relics of the kingdom¡¯s history. If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Each item was valuable and spoke highly of the king¡¯s power, wealth, and reach. It was a clear testament to how the Kainish Kingdom made it across the mortal realm and what the kingdom had achieved since its founding. Still, Percy was a little lost. ¡°Are there no Monster Cards, proper Relics, or something like that?¡± Percy looked judgemental at the Old King as if to say That¡¯s your personal collection? Are you serious right now? ¡°My collection is here. You just have to find it,¡± the Old King replied with a smile. You can pick anything you want.¡± Percy had no idea what his grandfather was thinking, but his Ego responded to the words he spoke or the intention hidden within them. More than a dozen Interfaces popped up all across the treasury. You exposed your collection just now. Thanks, I guess! His head flicked left and right to find all interfaces and inspect them. [Leviathan Scroll ¨C Marvelous/Ancient ¨C 13,326,023 Prosperity] [Titan Shield ¨C Perfect Quality ¨C 19,393,911 Prosperity.] [Perfect Shield], [Titan Body], [Shield Expertise], [Superior Earthen Wall] [Monster Card ¨C Vermillion Bird(Overlord) ¨C [Undying Body?????], [Pyromancy ????] ¨C 139,532,632 Prosperity.] [Monster Card ¨C Black Wyvern(Guardian) ¨C [Greater Agility Boost???], [Dragonic Wrath????], [Transformation: Wings?????] ¨C 75,035,822 Prosperity] ¡­ ¡­ ¡°Oh shit,¡± Percy blurted aloud. He trembled violently and turned back to the Old King, who smiled back, ¡°Looks like it works. Your Ego shows you everything in your possession as an interface, doesn¡¯t it? That¡¯s very interesting.¡± ¡°But you should only be able to see a dozen or so interfaces. The rest no longer belong to my collection and is thus part of the royal treasury. The King is the current owner of everything else.¡± Percy squinted his eyes, ¡°Please don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re planning to kill my father to put me on the throne to inherit everything¡­¡± He said it half-jokingly but was still worried that the Old King might be serious. However, his grandfather only laughed, whereas the royal librarian paled. ¡°I don¡¯t plan to kill my child. I think it was troublesome enough to assassinate you,¡± The Old King responded, ¡°You can pick whatever. Two treasures of my personal collection. As for birthday gifts¡­Your father will have to give them to you. Your Ego doesn¡¯t consider me as the rightful owner of the treasures in here anymore if it shows you only the most valuable objects.¡± ¡°That makes sense. My Ego is a little unique, but it would consider something I¡¯ve stolen as my property if I keep it with me long enough,¡± He glanced at the royal librarian and quickly added, ¡°Not that something like that happened before¡­¡± The librarian smiled smugly at him, and Percy cleared his throat and turned in a hurry, ¡°I can pick whatever, right?¡± ¡°Go for it. Your Ego knows what I own.¡± Percy nodded and moved right away. He had already decided his first item and walked through the treasury. He passed by the sealed box where the Monster Card of the Vermillion Bird was hidden and rummaged through a heap of gold coins. He found some Imperial Coins within the heaps of gold coins and considered taking them with him for a moment but decided against it. His attention lingered on a lengthy object that looked like a stick. It was hidden underneath heaps of gold and must have been there for a while, but Percy freed It. He picked up the ordinary-looking black sheath of the weapon he¡¯d discovered through the Ego¡¯s interface and smiled vibrantly at it. [Dragon Fang(Syreablade) ¨C Perfect/Soulbound(None) ¨C 219,536,923 Prosperity.] Everything about the weapon screamed ¡®Perfection¡¯ because that was exactly what it was. He reached for the lengthy handle and felt it adjust perfectly to his grip. It was almost like the object in his hands was alive and trying to adapt to its user. The sounds around Percy were swallowed as he reached for the pitch-black sheath. It took him only a quarter of a second to pull the blade from the sheath, but it felt like an eternity to Percy. He held his breath and stared at the incarnation of perfection with wide eyes. The blade was black, just like the sheath had been, but it seemed to swallow the light in its surroundings. However, Percy didn¡¯t even notice that. All he could do was stare at the curved, single-edge blade in utter excitement. The grip was long enough to accommodate two hands, but the Syreablade was not that heavy. He could carry it with one hand. Suddenly, Percy¡¯s ears perked up. Something whispered into his ears. He looked around but couldn¡¯t see anything odd. Other than the Old King and the royal librarian approaching him with surprise¡­no¡­ With terror in their eyes. [Feed¨C...] The whisper returned. [Feed me!!] Percy looked down at the weapon but wasn¡¯t sure if the whisper came from the Syreablade or his Ego. His Ego trembled violently. It wanted to consume the Syreablade, yet the weapon in his hands didn¡¯t remain silent. It responded to his Ego¡¯s call. [Bind me!!] It called for him. B2 Chapter 57 - Bound It felt like the Syreablade had a heartbeat. It was talking to him, urging him to bind it to him. The Syreablade didn¡¯t tell Percy how to do that, but his instincts told him what he had to do. He licked his lips in excitement and uncertainty of what was going to happen and pressed his thumb incredibly lightly against the sharp side of the Syreablade. Percy was fully focused all the time, but he still didn¡¯t notice right away how deeply the Syreablade cut into his thumb. His eyes widened in surprise. How in the seven hells is this blade so sharp?! The weapon¡¯s sharpness surprised him, and so did the blood pooling out of the wound. Far more blood than he¡¯d planned to surrender for the binding experiment streamed down the blade, which consumed everything. The blood didn¡¯t reach the tip of the Syreablade before it was consumed by the Dragon Fang¡¯s seemingly insatiable hunger. Time passed eerily slowly, but it was still not slow enough to show Percy what exactly was happening. After absorbing Percy''s blood, the pitch-black blade was covered in thin crimson vein-like streaks, but that was not all. The Syreablade urged his mana to mix into his blood¡­and Percy followed the command without hesitation. His mana reserves were emptied within seconds, leaving Percy a little exhausted. However, a smile blossomed on his lips, replacing the strained expression on his face when he sensed a connection building up with the Syreablade. It wasn¡¯t unexpected, nonetheless, it was a pleasant experience. His senses shot back to their original sensitivity, and Percy had to put the Syreablade back into its sheath before his legs caved in. He landed in a heap of gold and Imperial coins, his entire body covered in cold sweat. Still, his smile never ceased. Crazy. This is crazy! Percy was over the moon, yet he struggled retrieving a Healing Potion from his spatial storage, all while the Old King and royal librarian surrounded him. They stared blankly at him for a while until both were certain Percy wouldn¡¯t collapse suddenly. ¡°What is this doing here, Your Excellency?!¡± The royal librarian asked sharply. Even though he followed formalities, everyone could tell how angry the royal librarian was. The Old King didn¡¯t mind the lack of manners and shrugged in confusion. ¡°I¡­am not sure. My father lost Dragon Fang before I ascended the throne. I am sure of it: I remember how sad I was when he told me about it. I always dreamed about using the Syreablade in battle¡­¡± His loud voice turned into a whisper the more he said, while his eyes were glued to Dragon Fang in the sheath. ¡°So, you are trying to tell me that Percy found Dragon Fang, which your father lost several hundred years ago, under a pile of gold? Do you want me to¡­.¡± The librarian went silent while the Old King shook his head. ¡°I cannot believe it myself. It was always here¡­ That makes no sense.¡± ¡°It does not, Your Excellency. It does not.¡± Percy didn¡¯t listen to the older man¡¯s quarrel. It looked like something that must have occurred often in the past. There was no need for a youngster like him to listen to. Instead, Percy summoned his personal interface because he sensed that something had changed. It felt almost like the Syreablade was now¡­ a part of him. ¡ºPercy Kain¡» [Ego ¨C Coin of Prosperity] [Tier] ¨C [Elite-9] ¡ª [Dragon Fang (Syreablade)] ¨C [Growth?????], [Gnoll Warrior (Elite ¨C?) ¨C [Blade Mastery???],[A Hunter¡¯s Smell?], [Basic Strength Boost?], [Berserk ????]] [Blueflame Hawk (Elite ¨C ?) ¨C [Hawk Eyes ?] ¨C [Frostbite ????], [Basic Agility Boost ??], [Silent Reaper ?] ] ¡ºCoin of Prosperity¡» Prosperity: 1,000,000 ?Consume Dragon Fang was added to the Monster Card section. It is not a Monster Card, and it doesn¡¯t feel like it occupies a spot for a Monster Card ¨C I don¡¯t have a space left in the first place. Yet, the Syreablade is connected to him similar to Monster Card. It doesn¡¯t feel like an Artifact, yet it is not a Monster Card either. That is¡­interesting. [Growth] felt more like an Augmentation than an enchantment. There was no runic enchantment engraved on the Syreablade in the first place. Still, Percy couldn¡¯t decipher the extent of the [Growth] Augmentation. It didn¡¯t feel like his growth improved. Instead, it was more like the Augmentation applied only to the Syreablade. He unsheathed the blade again and felt its grip adjust perfectly to Percy¡¯s grasp again. It was still in the molding process, or so it felt, yet Percy couldn¡¯t help but be more than satisfied with his new play tool. He turned away from the odd pair of quarreling men and closed his eyes. [Blade Mastery] was always active but felt stronger when wielding blades. In fact, the greater the blade, the stronger [Blade Mastery]. At least, that was what Percy felt at this very moment. This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. He took only one step forward, but that was enough to slash down, twist the blade when it was about to reach the ground and cut upward with little effort. Percy used the accumulated momentum perfectly in sync with the application of little force. The Syreablade whizzed quickly through the air, filling the treasury with Dragon Fang¡¯s pleasant humming. After executing a few sequences, Percy stopped and smiled vibrantly. He opened his eyes and turned around. ¡°You know¡­you can probably cut the treasury apart with the Syreablade,¡± The royal librarian muttered, ¡°It looked great and all¡­but how about you train outside next time?¡± ¡°Oh. Well. Of course.¡± The Syreablade transformed into a black wisp when Percy was about to sheath it again. However, the pitch-black sheath wasn¡¯t there anymore. What had replaced the sheath was the mark of an obsidian-colored Syreablade on the back of his right hand. As everything followed the natural process, the black wisp burst forth and impacted the back of his right hand. It merged with the mark of the obsidian-colored Syreablade, dying it in a much darker tone. Should I check what enchantments I can engrave on the Syreablade? Or does it act like a Monster Card and grant me multiple Augmentations if I engrave them? Will 1,000,000 Prosperity points be enough¡­ Yeah, no. That¡¯s definitely not enough. The Syreablade is already priced at more than two hundred million Prosperity. It¡¯s far more valuable than anything I¡¯ve seen. Percy decided against it. He was curious, but enchanting a powerful weapon like Dragon Fang would cost a fortune. His mind would always drift to the cost of upgrading the Syreablade, forcing him to save up rather than invest in other things. In the first place, Dragon Fang was sharp enough to cut through lots of things. The royal librarian wasn¡¯t joking when he said Dragon Fang was sharp enough to cut the treasury in two. And that wasn¡¯t an easy feat. The treasury was made of a material not even Peak Master Tier Gifted Ones could destroy easily, and it was further reinforced with countless runic enchantments. Yet, the Syreablade was sharp enough to cut through it. I don¡¯t think I have enough mana to support such a straining task, but it is good to know that it is theoretically possible. Percy smiled and didn¡¯t even notice that the quarrel between the Old King and the royal librarian had died. They talked about something else. ¡°He should pick the Vermillion Bird Monster Card. I don¡¯t think you¡¯re realizing how powerful this Card is. You haven¡¯t been using Monster Card for centuries, so it¡¯s obvious that you forgot a lot, Your Excellency. But think about it. This kid can use the full power of the Vermillion Bird in the near future,¡± The royal librarian said, but the Old King shook his head. He was holding another Card, two to be precise, in his hands and tapped them lightly. ¡°These Cards are better for him. I¡¯m certain of it!¡± Percy tilted his head and stepped forward, ¡°Can I help you somehow?¡± Both men turned around and nodded. ¡°What do you want to pick next? Do you like the Vermillion Bird? Its Augmentations are powerful, and it is a very strong creature. Once you learn how to control the Vermillion Bird, you will be stronger than most Imperials!¡± The royal librarian announced, but the Old King snickered in annoyance. ¡°But you will still be weaker than me. If you use these two Cards, you can become much stronger. For the records, one of the Cards is my present to you. I¡­think it was good that you¡¯ve survived. Maybe it wasn¡¯t the best move to sent assassins after you¡­¡± That was probably as far as the Old King would ever get to apologizing. It was much better than anything Percy had been hoping for. He accepted the Cards from the Old King and checked them out [Capture Card ¨C Mythical ¨C 5,023,236 Prosperity] [Ego Boost ¨C Relic Card/Perfect ¨C 73,913,692 Prosperity] Percy had never heard of Mythical Quality or Relic Cards. He thought only Monster Cards were a thing. The Capture Card sounded interesting, mostly because of the special label as ¡®Mythical¡¯, but the Prosperity points offered by the Ego was a little low. He couldn¡¯t help but throw a doubtful glance at the Old King, who smiled in response. ¡°The Cards are both special. The Capture Card allows you to capture any kind of monster. It will be far more intelligent than the average Monster Card and will retain 100% of its combat prowess. My ¨C Our¨C great ancestor procured two Capture Cards, and my father used one of them to capture a Dragon in the past. The success rate is relatively low, but maybe you can boost it somehow after you use the Relic Card, Ego Boost, to enhance your Ego. Maybe you learn how to turn your fortune into something else than a means to upgrade your Tier.¡± The Old King proposed. Percy snickered in response, ¡°I already know how to upgrade Monster Cards. I can also use my Ego to engrave runic enchantments using Prosperity points ¨C the currency I earn from consuming my property.¡± The Old King smiled in response, ¡°That¡¯s even better. The Relic Card will probably help you grow even stronger in an even shorter time.¡± Percy nodded, but he felt a little odd about the Ego Boost Card. Something about it repulsed him. There was something ¡®bright¡¯ about the Relic Card, which repulsed him and vice versa. His Ego didn¡¯t urge him to consume the Relic Card, but it felt like the Coin of Prosperity was pulling him away from the Relic Card. That was¡­odd, to say the least. ¡°The Relic Card is something I obtained and used for a long time. It helped me grow into one of the strongest Egos in the mortal realm. That was before I got injured, of course. It occupies a Monster Card spot, but the Relic Card is worth it.¡± The Relic Card could be applied to strengthen Egos. That might be great and all, but it was useful if the Relic Card rejected him from the distance while his Ego didn¡¯t want to have anything to do with it either. ¡°The Relic Card is a gift from you, right?¡± Percy asked with slight hesitation, ¡°So I can use it in whatever way I want to, right?¡± ¡°I cannot use it either way, and it''s waste on your father. He isn¡¯t using his Ego often and he would never replace his Monster Cards with Ego Boost. What a fool!¡± ¡°My Ego rejects the Relic Card,¡± Percy said straightforwardly, ¡°But I can push to Master-0 right away if I consume it. The remainder Prosperity can then be used to strengthen the Capture Card, to enhance my other Monster Cards, or¨C...¡± The Old King raised his hand. His eyes quivered a little but he nodded, ¡°Ego Boost is my present to you. You can use it as you please. As long¡­ As long as you don¡¯t waste it.¡± ¡°Thank you. I will not waste it,¡± Percy said, ¡°I promise.¡± He unleashed [Consume], unsealing the abomination of the Coin of Prosperity to devour the Relic Card a moment later. The abomination burst from his palm with a primal roar and swallowed the pristine light within the Relic Card instantaneously. [Relic Card has been consumed. 73,913,692 Prosperity has been added. [A Fragment of a Holy Star has been consumed.] [Your Tier increased by one rank.] [Your Tier increased to Master. Additional Monster Card Slot has been unlocked.] [Your attunement to the Coin of Prosperity increased. Your understanding increased.] B2 Chapter 58 - Master Tier & Investment Percy shouldn¡¯t have been surprised about the mana flood or Mana Shaping taking over, yet both were far more intense than before. Breaking past the limits of the Elite Tier and entering the ranks of a Master Gifted changed a lot. The first thing Percy noticed was the sudden increase in his perception. His senses grew much more sensitive the moment his Tier increased to Master-0, but that was only the beginning. His mana reserves tripled in size while his body grew stronger, faster, and more durable. The nutrients used to complete Mana Shaping was tremendous, and he utilized every bit of the nutrients he had accumulated by feasting on the food prepared for the royal family for several days. The nutrients were used up quickly, leaving Percy starving. His stomach growled in demand for food, and Percy couldn¡¯t do anything about it. There was no way he could defy the endless hunger fueling him. Percy didn¡¯t notice what happened until the Old King put a potion to his lips. He didn¡¯t want to drink it at first, but the combined efforts of the Old King and the royal librarian were enough to force him to drink everything. Disgusting! Did they feed me dragon poop or what?!? Percy was about to scream aloud until he realized his hunger was no more. His stomach was silenced and filled to the brim all of a sudden. ¡°Good. That worked,¡± The Old King mumbled to himself. He ignored the confusion in Percy¡¯s eyes, turned around, and headed to a heap of gold. ¡°Your Ego might not consider this as my property, but it is, in fact, mine. You can ask your father if you don¡¯t believe me,¡± He said lightly while circulating. He groaned in pain but proceeded by separating a pile of gold from the rest. Once the pile was separated, the Old King retrieved a small pouch engraved with a golden runic enchantment. He channeled mana into the golden runic enchantment in pain and triggered it. The pouch opened naturally and sucked the pile of gold coins inside. ¡°That¡¯s your wallet now. You can infuse your mana into the runic enchantment. That way, only you can access the runic enchantment and the coins inside the pouch,¡± The Old King explained, ¡°If someone tries cutting the pouch open to take out what¡¯s inside, the pouch will either crumble¡­or explode, depending on the amount of damage inflicted to it. Just be careful, and you should be fine.¡± Percy raised an eyebrow. He didn¡¯t accept the ¡®wallet¡¯ right away but looked at the Old King for a while instead. His grandfather clicked his tongue at his grandson¡¯s defiance: ¡°Consider this the accumulated pocket money of the last sixteen years. Your parents don¡¯t know about it, but I have been putting aside money for Sophia for the last few years. She will receive her portion once she turns sixteen.¡± He sighed, ¡°But then again¡­I¡¯m not sure if it is a good idea to put aside so much money for Sophia. She is too naive and will be exploited if she keeps going like this.¡± Percy scoffed, ¡°They can try exploiting her. I will greet them properly if they try. My fist is already itching.¡± ¡°You look like your father when you talk like this. Our family is known for having a bad temper. The blood of Dragons running through our veins is the problem. We have a bad temper, love treasures and wealth, and we are prideful and think¡­we know everything.¡± The Old King looked at him when he said the last bit, but Percy merely smiled. He knew exactly what the Old King was hinting at. ¡°Are we done here now?¡± The royal librarian asked, ¡°Percy needs some rest. He ranked up twice and even went as far as going up by one Tier. There¡¯s also the issue with being bound to Dragon Fang. No matter how many potions he empties, Percy must be on the verge of collapsing.¡± ¡°I feel fine¨C...ish,¡± Percy responded with a forced smile. Today had been a messy day ¨C like many days in the last few weeks ¨C, but he was excited. He found out his grandfather had been trying to kill him because of Devil¡¯s Touch, but that was already a thing of the past. He was stronger than before, acquired a powerful bound weapon, acquired enough Prosperity to splurge and create hundreds of Elite Artifacts, and a unique Card with which he could capture any kind of creature. How could he not be excited? Still, his legs trembled and threatened to cave in at any moment. ¡°Yes, we are done here.¡± That being said, Percy¡¯s journey into the royal treasury ended. He stepped out stronger than ever. *** ¡°How is it possible for someone at his age to be¡­like this?¡± The Old King asked his friend, the royal librarian, ¡°You saw what I saw, didn¡¯t you? From what I found out, Percy had been weak and helpless when he first gained access to mana. He hasn¡¯t been a noble in training for decades.¡± ¡°You are right, but that is your fault,¡± The royal librarian ignored his old friend¡¯s glare and gestured to him, ¡°Keep going.¡± ¡°You¡­ Whatever. Percy gained access to mana less than a year ago, ye he grew up this fast. He advanced to the Master Tier, and even Dragon Fang accepted him. Father always told me that Dragon Fang nearly killed him because he only barely met the slumbering dragon¡¯s requirements, yet Percy looked totally fine after drinking an ordinary Healing Potion.¡± If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. ¡°I don¡¯t think he used his ¡®Prosperity¡¯ yet, either. I am talking about the Prosperity he earned from devouring the Relic Card,¡± The royal librarian added, ignoring the Old King¡¯s wincing, ¡°If I didn¡¯t understand his powers wrong, he must still have some Prosperity to upgrade his Monster Cards, which will add to his Ego use. Whenever he uses his Ego, whether it is to consume something or to upgrade something, his Tier progresses. That means he can create powerful Monster Cards and Artifacts from the Prosperity he¡¯s just earned¡­to earn even more money and repeat the process.¡± ¡°After all¡­¡± The Old King¡¯s eyes widened, ¡°After all, he can also devour gold. We saw him do that earlier. So he can earn money and turn it into Prosperity and then use it to create more high-value items that can be sold for good money again.¡± The librarian nodded with a vibrant smile, ¡°I think you¡¯re glad the Shadow Assassins failed.¡± The Old King pressed his lips together, ¡°Yeah¡­I am.¡± ¡°It¡¯s just sad that Gregory is dead,¡± He pressed his lips together, ¡°It¡¯s all my fault. I was too scared of Devil¡¯s Touch. No¡­I still am afraid of it. What if¡­¡± ¡°Stop thinking like that. Instead, you should act like a proper grandfather and make amends. Otherwise, you won¡¯t witness the future of the Kainesh Kingdom. You nearly lost your son today. You know that, right?¡± The Old King didn¡¯t say anything, but he knew the truth. If not for Percy forgiving him¡­ A heavy sigh escaped his lips. Something had to change. *** When Percy woke up the next day, he felt great. Yesterday had been overwhelming and quite complicated, given the mess of all the events that happened, but the final result was much better than expected. He collapsed on the bed the moment the Old King and the royal librarian brought him back to his room and he slept until early in the morning. The first rays of sunlight woke him like usually and he shot up to workout and consider the next course of action. I have enough Prosperity to upgrade a few things. I¡¯m already at the Master Tier, yet my Monster Cards are still at the lower threshold of the Elite Tier. Their Augmentations are powerful but I cannot summon the Monsters in battle without worrying if they will die. That has to change. That being said, Percy started upgrading his Monster Card¡¯s Potential and Augmentations while finishing his daily morning workout routine. [Gnoll Warrior Card¡¯s Potential -[Elite ?] has been upgraded. 1,000,000 Prosperity has been consumed] ¡­ [Gnoll Warrior Card¡¯s Potential -[Elite ????] has been upgraded. 5,062,500 Prosperity has been consumed] [Blueflame Hawk Card¡¯s Potential -[Elite ?] has been upgraded. 1,000,000 Prosperity has been consumed] ¡­ [Blueflame Hawk Card¡¯s Potential -[Elite ?] has been upgraded. 5,062,500 Prosperity has been consumed] [Gnoll Warrior Card¡¯s Augmentation, [Basic Strength Boost?] has been upgraded. 300,000 Prosperity has been consumed] [Gnoll Warrior Card¡¯s Augmentation, [Basic Strength Boost??] has been upgraded. 600,000 Prosperity has been consumed] ¡­ [Gnoll Warrior Card¡¯s Augmentation, [Basic Strength Boost????] has been upgraded. 2,400,000 Prosperity has been consumed] [Blueflame Hawk Card¡¯s Augmentation, [Basic Agility Boost??] has been upgraded. 600,000 Prosperity has been consumed] ¡­ [Blueflame Hawk Card¡¯s Augmentation, [Basic Agility Boost????] has been upgraded. 2,400,000 Prosperity has been consumed] ¡­ ¡­ ¡°That was a lot more than expected,¡± Percy groaned in pain. Upgrading his Monster Cards was a pain in the ass because it was incredibly expensive, but the worst part was that it was painful to upgrade the Boost Augmentations. Upgrading [Hawk Eyes] and [Blade Mastery] was also problematic, yet it wasn¡¯t as painful as pushing both Agility and Strength Boost Augmentations against each other. The [Basic Strength Boost] tried transforming his body in the most efficient way to utilize tremendous physical strength, while the [Basic Agility Boost] was trying to push his body to attain the perfect build of a speedster. The Augmentations clashed and were forced to cooperate, but getting that far was¡­difficult, to say the least. Still, the improvements were tremendous. His Strength and Agility reached new heights, just like his vision and understanding of blades skyrocketed. But that was only obvious given how much Prosperity he splurged in a single morning. ¡ºPercy Kain¡» [Ego ¨C Coin of Prosperity] [Tier] ¨C [Master-0] ¡ª [Dragon Fang (Syreablade)] ¨C [Growth?????], [Gnoll Warrior (Elite ¨C?????) ¨C [Blade Mastery?????],[A Hunter¡¯s Smell?], [Basic Strength Boost?????], [Berserk ????]] [Blueflame Hawk (Elite ¨C ?????) ¨C [Hawk Eyes ???] ¨C [Frostbite ????], [Basic Agility Boost ?????], [Silent Reaper ?] ] [Capture Card ¨C No Inhabitant ¨C Mythical] ¡ºCoin of Prosperity¡» Prosperity: 33,219,155 ?Consume ¡°I should leave some more for the Dragon Lair¡­and the Capture Card¡­¡± Percy murmured, nodding his head slowly as he went for the shower. He had to hurry up. His family was already waiting for him in the dining hall. The sound of that made him smile uncontrollably. Percy had a family. He wasn¡¯t alone anymore. B2 Chapter 59 - The Future The Capture Card was still empty, but Percy used it to occupy his last Monster Card Spot. Maybe it was better to put something else there first, but Percy knew that if he picked something else first, he would struggle to remove it again. The Gnoll Warrior and Blueflame Hawk are too closely bound with me to remove them again. Ego-enhancing Cards ¨C adding Augmentations and improving their Potential ¨C also strengthened my connection with them. In the first place, that is how the Blueflame Hawk could reach me from a long distance and inform me of the others¡¯ arrival in the royal forest. He could have done a few things differently, but it didn¡¯t matter too much. Adding another Monster Card with three to five Augmentations would be over the top. At least for the time being. He¡¯d just upgraded several Augmentations, with some requiring quite a bit of practice to adapt to. In the first place, Percy¡¯s body would probably need the most time to adapt to the changes. His Strength, Agility, and vision had improved tremendously, but his senses and other physical characteristics improved a lot by reaching the Master Tier. He would have to work hard to get used to his body¡¯s changes. Adding another Monster Card with similar physical boosting Augmentations would be a little bit over the top. Then again, Percy might find something interesting to catch with the Capture Card. Should I upgrade the Capture Card right away? No, I better wait a little bit longer to put more Prosperity aside for emergencies and heavy investments. But then again, who¡¯s going to attack me, let alone overwhelm me, forcing me to use more than thirty million Prosperity? Well¡­I can never know for sure. Let¡¯s be ready for the worst case. It¡¯s not like I need to upgrade the Capture Card right away in the first place. Once he finished contemplating, Percy washed up, changed into a neat set of clothes ¨C prepared by the royal tailor a few days ago ¨C and left for breakfast. Percy found his sister, parents, the Old King, and the revolutionary Alchemist at the royal dining hall. The latter was something Emilia Dark called herself. Percy was unsure what to think of that, given that he¡¯d seen and used her ¡®revolutionary¡¯ potions, but he decided to give the elderly woman what she wanted. And she sure wanted to be called a revolutionary Alchemist. Breakfast was simple. The tension was higher than Percy was used to at the breakfast table, but that was mostly owed to the royal couple. If gazes could kill, the Old King would probably be covered in gaping holes. Fortunately, Phillip Kain and Reina Kain didn¡¯t have an Augmentation, which transformed their eyes into deadly weapons. ¡°What are you planning to do now that you have returned to the royal family?¡± The Old King looked up from the plate and asked Percy. Phillip was ready to launch into a tirade of snarky comments, but the Queen held him back. She glanced over to her son in interest. ¡°That¡¯s a good question, and I¡¯m not certain yet,¡± Percy sighed deeply, ¡°I don¡¯t know if everyone is aware of the shop I opened in the capital a few weeks ago, but I don¡¯t want to close it. That, I do know already.¡± ¡°Because of the Blacksmith you have been training and the Demi-Human siblings?¡± His grandfather asked, earning everyone¡¯s attention. However, the Old King merely shrugged, ¡°I am just doing my research thoroughly.¡± Percy nodded, but he shook his head after a second. ¡°It is partially because of them, but I cannot deny my selfish reasoning. The shop is something that will inevitably help me grow much stronger. It will support the expenses of my Ego and help me accumulate more wealth, which can then be transformed into more power.¡± This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. ¡°We can help you with that. How about we transfer you the ownership of a few buildings in the center of the capital. The customer flow will help you support the expenses of your Ego. Your Ego is powerful, so we might as well help you grow. That way¡­nothing can happen to you, no matter who¡¯s coming after you,¡± The Queen glared dangerously at the Old King, who ignored his daughter-in-law. ¡°Lil Ray, I don¡¯t think that¡¯s a good idea,¡± Emilia Dark said, speaking up for the first time, ¡°Are you going to spoil Percy to death? How is he supposed to grow if you give him everything he needs? He is supposed to be challenged by the numerous trials awaiting him and can only grow stronger, better, as he endures the challenges and overcomes them.¡± ¡°Yes¡­but¡­¡± ¡°I agree with Grandmother. I was already given a lot, but if I accept even more¡­I don¡¯t know how I will turn out. I¡­hope to be better than the snobby nobles I¡¯ve encountered in the Wintermoon Estate. Maybe it doesn¡¯t seem like a big problem from your points of view, but to commonbirth Egos, a Gifted without extraordinary background, most nobles is a pain in the¡­¡± Percy shook his head, ¡°I apologize for my choice of words, but nobles are a hassle. That¡¯s also what Old Greg always told me. They¡¯re scheming behind each other¡¯s back and betray each other the moment you make a mistake. I really don¡¯t like this. You never know where you¡¯re at with certain people, and that¡¯s just not what I want.¡± He sighed again. Being the crown prince is something he had accepted at this point. However, that didn¡¯t include the responsibilities. All that meant was Percy being ready to accept that the King and Queen were his parents, that Sophia was his sister, and that the Old King was his grandfather. But what about his responsibilities as the crown prince? What about ascending the throne in the future? Was he ready for that? Definitely not. Still, Percy had to find out what kind of human he wanted to be once he ascended the throne. What kind of King did he want to be? Everyone at the table looked at Percy, myriad thoughts flashing through their minds. They¡¯re thinking I¡¯m crazy. But so be it. I was raised as an ordinary child in a small settlement far away from the capital. The people there weren¡¯t rich, but they were still nice and helped me without expecting anything in return. They haven¡¯t been raised in the hopes of playing their enemies out with nasty schemes or plots other people¡¯s demise¡­ That¡¯s not what I want. Percy recalled the helplessness of the Raewood¡¯s townspeople when the Archyeas had been discovered, and the struggles of Erik and Tarlek. To put it in simple terms, the brothers¡¯ childhood had been a mess. There had been too few defenders who moved too slowly to do something about the struggles of those who couldn¡¯t protect themselves. ¡°I want to help those who have never been given the opportunity to grow. The people in the capital are already in a much better position than the townspeople and villagers of the Kainesh Kingdom, but that doesn¡¯t mean there aren¡¯t any poor and unfortunate residents. In fact, I found far more struggling residents in the capital than elsewhere. You either rise high or get trampled upon in the capital.¡± ¡°You wish to use the money I gave you to help others? Do you want to give them a place to sleep and food to get through the day? I think you underestimate the costs you¡¯re going to have to shoulder. Phillip tried it once but used up most of the fortune he¡¯d acquired during his reign. I know you saw the wealth accumulated in the treasury, but that is not Phillip¡¯s money. Most of it is mine, while the rest belongs to the kingdom. It is used to protect the kingdom, by granting the strongest of the new generation to grow stronger as fast as possible. We have to prepare for a war with the Devil and his pawns, after all.¡± The Old King pointed out Phillip winced twice when his father commented on his failure to help the poor and the possible war with the Devil. He was still angry at his father, but that didn¡¯t change the truth. The Demon sightings were still increasing, yet the next Imperial wouldn¡¯t be graduating anytime soon. It would take another six months to finish their training, half of that if the kingdom¡¯s fortune would be used to accelerate the training, which was necessary. ¡°I never said I would give anything out for free,¡± Percy shook his head. ¡°My plan is to give the poor opportunities to change their lives,¡± He said, ¡°I¡¯m going to give them jobs and the means to trod down one of many golden roads to success.¡± A smile blossomed on Percy¡¯s face, but it wasn¡¯t a nice smile. It was a crafty smile. ¡°I¡¯m going to become their employer!¡± B2 Chapter 60 - Meeting The following days were chaotic. Percy ignored the royal family¡¯s suggestion to focus on the greater market first ¨C they told him to create Master Artifacts and sell them for several times his cost. While that was a valid suggestion that would earn him a fortune, Percy took a different path. His grandfather had given him a great fortune, concealed as the ¡®accumulated pocket change¡¯, which he accessed right away. After bringing Bert, Louis, and Sabrina to the palace. ¡°Hello, everyone,¡± Percy waved happily at them as they entered the palace but winced when he saw their expressions of terror and confusion. ¡°Please, don¡¯t look at me like that.¡± ¡°Boss? You are¡­¡± Bert stammered, which wasn¡¯t much better than the trio''s expressions. ¡°That is a very long story. But long story short¡­I¡¯m the crown prince. Yes, the same one who¡¯s supposed to be dead. Surprise! I¡¯m not dead and was just¡­lost.¡± Percy tried to lighten the mood by talking about it in a nonchalant way, but his attempt failed miserably. ¡°You are¡­the crown prince?¡± Louis asked the color of his face drained. ¡°Apparently,¡± Percy shrugged before ruffling through his hair, ¡°That means I can openly beat up everyone who tries hurting you or your sister.¡± He winked at Sabrina, who walked over to him to hug Percy tightly. ¡°Noooo!¡± A familiar, high-pitched voice rang out from behind, and Percy knew right away who was rushing their way. He turned around and held onto Sabrina. The young Demi flinched once but held onto Percy nonetheless. ¡°Good Morning, Sophia. These are my friends. Bert, over there, is an uprising blacksmith. He might be a little bit on the bigger side, but he is a little softie. You will like him a lot,¡± Percy ruffled through his sister¡¯s hair once she reached them. The princess squealed but was momentarily distracted from the sight unfolding before her, ¡°And here we have Louis and Sabrina. Louis has been protecting my shop, and Sabrina is very good at organizing. They are very nice. I hope you can treat them like you want others to treat you.¡± Sophia looked at Percy for a moment and nodded slowly. Her servants ¨C numbering in the two-digit ¨C stood behind her in silence. It looked like one of them, an elderly maid, had something to say when her eyes fell upon the Demis, but she knew better than to speak up. ¡°So¡­I need to be their friend if I want them to be my friends?¡± Sophia tilted, ¡°And I need to hug them if I want to be hugged!¡± The princess reached Sabrina and embraced her before her servants could step forward. The elderly maid would have been fast enough, but Percy glared at her, momentarily stunning the woman. ¡°I am unsure if everyone wants to be hugged or touched before you introduce yourself. You have to take one step at a time to get to know those you want to befriend,¡± Percy lectured Sophia, but he didn¡¯t pull her away. Sabrina was slightly stunned, but the tears twinkling in her eyes were a clear statement. Maybe Sabrina needed this hug more than anything. Percy smiled at them, but little did he know that this incident would lead his shop manager to leave him behind to become Sophia¡¯s main maid, protector, and best friend. ¡°Why did you bring us here¡­your¡­excellency?¡± Louis struggled to ask. His mind was filled with questions, and his entire being overflowed with complex emotions. Percy heard footsteps from behind and smiled. The other had arrived. ¡°I wanted to introduce Bert to the royal family¡¯s blacksmith. He is a Grandmaster Blacksmith and very good at his job. Unfortunately, he is very busy, and it took me quite a while to convince my parents to free up his schedule. If nothing goes wrong, Bert can study under him a few hours a week,¡± Percy said, pointing at a smaller man with a long beard. He was musculous and looked just like you¡¯d expect a Dwarf to look. That made sense. After all, the Grandmaster Blacksmith of the royal family was a Dwarf to begin with. ¡°G¡¯day lad,¡± The Dwarf¡¯s hand crashed onto Percy¡¯s back before he looked at Bert¡¯s hulking figure, ¡°You brought me a big one. I hope he¡¯s as tough as he looks.¡± If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it. ¡°He sure is. Don¡¯t you worry about that,¡± Percy smiled through the pain and turned to the two women who¡¯d arrived alongside the Dwarf. One of the women was skinny and wore ordinary clothes. Nobody would think of her as a powerful gifted, let alone as the Minister of Finances. She didn¡¯t have much of a presence, and the most impressive thing about her was probably the glasses made with runic enchantments. ¡°This is the Minister of Finances. To be fair, I¡¯m not sure if this is a perfect pick, but my parents told me I should attend her lessons and bring my shop manager with me if she wants to,¡± He looked at Sabrina, ¡°If you want to, you can join the lessons. If not¡­you can always play with Sophia. I think she would like that too.¡± ¡°Play with me!¡± Sophia immediately squealed, but Sabrina was a little hesitant. Was it fine for her, a Demi-Human, to play with the princess? What if something happened? ¡°It¡¯s fine. You don¡¯t have to, but I can tell you want to play. There is no need to hesitate,¡± Percy encouraged Sabrina after seeing her excitedly twitching fur ears. ¡°That makes it easier for me,¡± the Minister of Finances said with a smile that was no smile. It looked more like the Devil was grimacing through her. That was scary, to say the least, ¡°It¡¯s going to be hard. You¡¯re already older than most of my students have ever been. I won¡¯t go easy on you though. You either succeed, or I will watch you crumble, crown prince!¡± Percy smiled in response. A challenge was exactly what he wanted. ¡°I¡¯m glad we¡¯re agree on that,¡± Percy responded. The second woman stepped forward. She wore armor, but even that didn¡¯t hide the muscles exposed by the few spots unguarded by her light leather armor. The runic armor was of excellent craft, yet Percy was more interested the woman. ¡°A Weaponmaster. My parents didn¡¯t exaggerate when they spoke highly of you,¡± Percy hinted at a bow, but the woman only raised an eyebrow. ¡°Are you going to study under me as well? This will be difficult. I can already sense some pressure from you. Your presence is as sharp as a well-made sword. But there is something ferocious mixed into it,¡± She said without formalities, but Percy shook his head. ¡°I might join some lessons, but I hope you can train Louis. He is stronger than the norm and hard-working. I¡¯m vouching for him. If you need something to train him, come to me. I¡¯m his sponsor.¡± Percy was ready to prepare Ego-enhanced Monster Cards for the trio, but he wanted them to study first. Monster Cards were great to convey knowledge if they had Augmentations like [Blade Mastery], but he hoped for more from the trio. They should learn the basics before acquiring additional knowledge from Augmentations. After all, they might replace their Monster Cards in the future, which will then retrieve the knowledge implanted by the Augmentations. That would be¡­ problematic, wouldn¡¯t it? ¡°Lad, there¡¯s ya weapons,¡± The Dwarf retrieved a few objects from his pockets and threw them in Percy¡¯s direction. Spatial pockets? That¡¯s not too bad. He has some style! The items were a long yet light longsword and a pair of handy axes. The axes weren¡¯t enchanted, but their presence couldn¡¯t be underestimated. They were bloody red, made from a material Percy had never seen before, and glimmered crimson. The longer Percy looked at the axes, the more it looked like they were made from liquid metal. The edges weren¡¯t as sharp as the Syreablade''s, but they were still deadly sharp, perfect for Erik. Percy accepted the axes with a smile and eyed the broadsword, ¡°I don¡¯t want to sound rude or spoiled, but are you certain this will handle my friend¡¯s power? He destroyed countless Artifacts, and if I want to enchant them with perfectly adjusted runic enchantments¡­.¡± ¡°Lad, don¡¯t ya worry. This is Levianit. As long as ya don¡¯t mess up the enchantments, ya friend won¡¯t break this lil precious one!¡± The Dwarf was overflowing with confidence. That was good. If he was confident in his work, it had to be extraordinary. [Bloodriver Axes ¨C Perfect Quality/Pair ¨C 262,749 Prosperity] [Levianit Blade ¨C Perfect Quality ¨C 352,921 Prosperity] The Bloodriver Axes and Levianit Blades could be considered extraordinary even among unenchanted Master Armaments. They were forged by a Grandmaster Blacksmith¡¯s unique tempering technique with exotic material that should fit perfectly to Erik and Tarlek¡¯s Egos. That being said, all that was missing were the suitable runic enchantments. That was something Percy would have to complete soon. It would cost a small fortune, but Percy was fine with that. It would be worth it if his gifts could help the brothers survive a near-death situation. ¡°Thank you,¡± Percy bowed politely to the Dwarf, who waved his hand dismissively. ¡°Yer parents forced me, so there is no need for any pleasantries. As long as yer tall friend is as good as your parents promised, I will be happy!¡± Now, it was time for Bert to sweat profusely. The Dwarf didn¡¯t want to waste more precious time and gestured to Bert to follow him. Bert looked at Percy like a beaten dog, but Percy merely smiled. ¡°You told me you want to grow stronger. That¡¯s your opportunity,¡± Percy pointed in the Dwarf¡¯s direction. Bert looked a little longer at Percy but resigned and nodded. Percy was correct. This was an opportunity. Determination filled his eyes, replacing Bert¡¯s hesitation, ¡°You are right.¡± Bert and the Dwarf left and it didn¡¯t take long before Sophia pulled Sabrina away. The Knightsguard/Weaponmaster of the royal palace ushered Louis to follow her after a moment, leaving Percy alone with the Minister of Finances. ¡°We should follow their lead,¡± She said, ¡°You have a lot to learn.¡± B2 Epilogue Dreams of evil nature had been haunting Percy for weeks. They skulked behind him whenever his eyes shut closed. Even when Percy wasn¡¯t tired, the nightmare would follow him, unraveling pictures of its nature to him the instant he blinked a moment longer than the norm. Sleeping had neve been as difficult as in the last few weeks, but today was different. Tonight¡¯s nightmare was far more realistic than it used to be. And, to make things worse, Percy couldn¡¯t do anything to change them, let alone wake up. He was caught in the nightmare, forced to witness the horrors unfolding before him. He levitated above a grand battlefield filled with the pained screams of the injured, puddles of crimson blood, and ripped-apart body parts. Percy would have shuddered at the sight of such battlefields hadn¡¯t been common in the last nightmares. However, the grand battlefield was nothing special. Only the location was different. It was in a large plains region connected to several smaller forests and one massive forest¡ªthe Moonlight Forest, to be precise. The grand battlefield spread across the Meiso Plains. Percy had already seen the battlefield dozens of times, but his hair stood up to its end whenever the hordes of demons swept mercilessly across it. There were tens of thousands of them, maybe even more. Percy couldn¡¯t capture all demons in a single frame, but he could say one thing for sure. There were enough Demons to bulldoze most cities in the Kainesh Kingdom. And that did not even include the Elite and Greater Demons. The Lesser Demons were numerous, capable of tearing apart everything the Kainesh Kingdom had achieved in the last few decades. Percy was pulled closer to the ground without warning. He was drawn to a familiar place, where he was forced to watch the death of the people he had known, people whom Percy owed a lot. He was back in Raewood, hovering above the small town, where half a dozen Lesser Demons wreaked havoc. The Demons squashed everyone in their way with ease, crushing tens of townspeople with their bare hands and hooves. However, they didn¡¯t grant the people Percy knew a slow death. No, they gathered everyone Percy had talked to on several occasions to rip them apart slowly and painfully. Percy was forced to watch it all. Merchant Erdwin¡¯s tongue was pulled out in a fit of rage before his fingers were pulled off his hands, Butcher Kevin¡¯s hands were cut off with his butcher knife, Leonhard was punched through and through, and his gut was pulled out at once. There were far more victims, but Percy couldn¡¯t watch it anymore. He couldn¡¯t take it anymore. It was terrifying. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. Yet, Percy was unable to escape. He wasn¡¯t in control of his body. His eyes were glued to the scene unfolding before him, and it was as if he would never wake up again. That was until an unknown yet oddly familiar voice filled his head. [Do you enjoy my present?] The voice, eerily cold and seemingly detached from the mortal realm, asked. Percy felt something caress his back, scratching him faintly as the voice continued. [The last year has been an incredible experience, hasn¡¯t it?] Percy swallowed hard as he regained some of his senses. [That¡¯s good. Grow stronger. Much stronger!] The voice thundered suddenly, [Only the strong make a good meal.] The voice began to laugh like a maniac for a few seconds as black mist gathered before Percy¡¯s face. It swirled across his face, and he reached for it, almost like trying to pull his face off by force. However, the black mist pulled back, and the laughing resumed. But this time, the presence around him intensified drastically as the laughing resounded. All of a sudden, a devious grimace burst through the black mist, filling Percy¡¯s field of vision. It was the massive face of a demon with red-glowing eyes and pitch-black skin. No¡­It wasn¡¯t a demon. It was a Devil. The Devil grimaced at him in hunger. [I am coming for you!] ¡­ Percy gasped for air and shot up from the bed. He was drenched in cold sweat and breathed heavily. His eyes widened in horror as he looked around. Nothing¡­is here¡­right? He swallowed hard, used [Hawk Eyes], and pushed the blanket aside to jump up. Percy was certain nobody was in his room, but the temperature had dropped drastically. ¡°Was that really just a dream?¡± He murmured, scratching the back of his head. Percy groaned in pain and pulled his hand back when something hot burned his fingertips. ¡°What the¡­¡± He cursed louder than before and rushed to the bathroom, where he checked out the back of his head. There it was, the mark of the Devil, glowing eerily through the thick cover of hair. It was both eerie and hot, demanding Percy¡¯s attention. It wanted to be noticed. Percy¡¯s eyes were glued to it. He had noticed it. However, Percy wasn¡¯t sure what to think of it. Was it a warning, telling him to stop wasting precious time and to start working on his power to face what lay ahead, or¡­was it a threat? A threat relayed by the Devil, who¡¯d marked him? One way or another, Percy couldn¡¯t ignore the Devil¡¯s Touch. It was too important to ignore, especially after today¡¯s dream. He had to prepare for war. [End of Volume 2: Devil¡¯s Touch] B3 Prologue The fabric of the Seven Hells tremored violently. Lava lakes and magma seas erupted in euphoria while the demons trembled violently in fear. The shadows of the past swirled around a massive obsidian throne in the center of a dark, gloomy palace that grew from the ground one day. It occupied an entire mountain and swallowed everything in its path as it grew tirelessly. ¡°Soon¡­ Soon, I will be ready,¡± An icy voice filled the throne hall, devouring the heat in the room. The temperature dropped instantly, creating a cacophony of cracking noises as the searing hot mana in the air was altered at once. The shadows swirling around the obsidian throne changed. They shifted, gathered, and compressed until the frame of a tall creature was unraveled. The creature¡¯s body fluctuated wildly, but it occupied the throne¡¯s entire space. Its eyes were red, almost crimson, and glowed dangerously as it looked at the Demons entering the palace like mindless puppets. The creature¡¯s pitch-black skin stretched with every move and exuded black mist as its shape destabilized with every move, but it smiled nonetheless. Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. ¡°Feed me your sin!¡± The creature thundered, a wave of demonic energy filling the air. The mindless demons were flung through the air and pulled toward the massive creature. They regained consciousness and started trembling and screaming at the top of their lungs, but the creature wasn¡¯t having any of this. Black mist burst out from all over his body. It shot toward the screaming demons and entered their bodies, which were sucked dry until all that was left of the demons was a husk of their former self. The demons, drained until only their bones and skin were left, were thrown aside and replaced by other victims. ¡°It¡¯s not enough,¡± The creature growled in displeasure, ¡°I need more!¡± No. What the creature needed wasn¡¯t more of the same food. It needed better food. More nutritious food. It had to feed on the greatest sinners. The most glutonous creatures it discovered in the thousands of years it had lived. It had to feed on humans to regain its full power as the ruler of one of the seven hells! ¡°Release the beasts!¡± The Devil thundered to a creature hiding within the shadows, ¡°Our time has come!¡± B3 Chapter 1 - Restless Percy was in distress. He rushed through the hallway of the royal palace like there was no tomorrow. Several days passed since his last nightmare, but the grimace of the Devil was still etched on his mind. The nightmares may be no more, but that didn¡¯t mean anything was over. If anything, Percy¡¯s worries skyrocketed now that the nightmares left without warning. He spent the last few days roaming around the royal library, studying as much as possible about Demons and Devils, and inquired more information about the Demon sightings in the kingdom, their position, numbers, and much more. The pieces of information he¡¯d acquired from the royal librarian weren¡¯t as bad as he¡¯d expected, but the nightmares had been too real to ignore. Something really bad would happen in the future. ¡°I know you¡¯re trying to be a good crown prince and that you want to serve the crown with all you¡¯ve got, but you will worry your parents if you keep going like this,¡± The royal librarian told Percy when the young crown prince returned to the royal library for the Xth time this week. Percy was as pale as a white sheet, his eyes were red from exhaustion and lack of sleep, and sweat poured down his back. ¡°I am fine,¡± Percy responded, ¡°Could you tell me more about the Gifted Ones of the kingdom, the number of Egos ¨C and the separate numbers of commonbirth Egos ¨C and how many Adventurers the kingdom has?¡± The royal librarian¡¯s lips parted, but they closed again when he saw the intensity in Percy¡¯s eyes. He squeezed his nose bridge and breathed out heavily. ¡°I cannot answer that with certainty since I don¡¯t usually request that information from the Guild, and not every Gifted bothers reporting their awakening, but I can give you the rough numbers if that helps you calm down.¡± Percy nodded vigorously before adding, ¡°And how is Raewood doing? I asked my father about the town yesterday, but he was busy with something. Did you know the Beastlands are causing trouble again? They couldn¡¯t have chosen a worse timing.¡± The royal librarian sighed, and it looked like he had aged by several years the longer Percy bothered him. ¡°We should have followed the Old King¡¯s advice to give you more access to the network channels,¡± The royal librarian mumbled before putting on a professional smile, which cracked the moment his eyes landed on Percy¡¯s face again, ¡°I think I should start with Raewood.¡± Percy smiled and agreed right away. ¡°Raewood¡¯s residents are doing fine. There seem to have been a few minor incidents, but the people you¡¯ve asked about are fine. Following your request, the Kingsguard searched for a handful of Adventurers who were about to retire to hire and deploy them to Raewood. They arrived the day before yesterday and have been protecting the town since then,¡± The royal librarian explained while Percy listened intently, ¡°You also requested to send some gold to those who helped you in the past. The King decided against it, not because they didn¡¯t deserve anything, but because he wanted to thank them instead. He used his personal fortune to give several gold coins to everyone who helped you before.¡± That¡¯s good. With Raewood earning the protection of several soon-to-retire Adventurers, it won¡¯t be possible for Lesser Demons to raze Raewood to the ground. Percy smiled at that. He didn¡¯t know if his nightmares showed the future or if the devil used his memories and worries to create the last nightmare he had, but one thing was sure: He would do everything in his power to stop the nightmares from becoming reality. ¡°Your other points are a little bit more challenging to put into exact numbers. But the rough numbers should be like this,¡± The royal librarian was silent for a few seconds and tilted his head, ¡°Roughly one out of ten citizens gains access to mana. That might seem like a lot, but most Gifted are not very talented. Still, one out of five Gifted Ones try their luck at adventuring. The possibility of earning good money by hunting monsters and growing stronger by hunting monsters is too enticing.¡± Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit. The royal librarian sighed, ¡°Unfortunately, most Gifted who become Adventurers without any prior training end up quitting after a traumatizing event. Either that, or they die in the Wilderness. They expect their livelihood to improve and to become powerhouses, capable of facing Giants head-on unarmed, only to end up getting torn apart by Goblins, Berserk Rabbits, and the like. I heard enough from my friends in the capital¡¯s Guild to say that Bronze Rank Adventurers are the most likely to quit adventuring or die in the Wilderness. It is a shame, but that¡¯s how it is.¡± That¡¯s not quite what I expected. There are more Gifted Ones than I¡¯ve anticipated, but if most of them aren¡¯t talented enough to grow stronger and increase their Tier quickly, using them for my plans will be difficult. Nonetheless, there should be enough Adventurers to focus on. The numbers might be on my side for once. ¡°What about Egos? I know there aren¡¯t many in the kingdom, but what is your guess?¡± ¡°My guess? There should be no more than 200 Egos spread across the Kainesh Kingdom,¡± The royal librarian said after thinking about it for a good minute, ¡°Don¡¯t be excited. More than half of those 200 Egos are either nobles or bastards. If you¡¯re looking for commonbrith Egos, there might be 50 in total, two dozen if you¡¯re searching for unaffiliated Egos. That is still a decent number, but most unaffiliated commonbirth Egos possess Egos that did not attract the attention of nobles, meaning they¡¯re probably not worth approaching because their Ego cannot be utilized in combat, forging, concocting, or enchanting. Or the young Egos are too difficult to deal with. They might be wild like your friends, the brothers.¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t consider Erik and Tarlek as ¡®wild and hard to deal with¡¯,¡± Percy responded, shrugging lightly when the royal librarian glared at him. ¡°Is there something else you want to know?¡± The librarian asked with a particular ¡®Stop asking anymore questions.¡¯ glare. ¡°No, I¡¯m good,¡± Percy hinted with a polite bow, ¡°Your answers have been helping me greatly. I have to get to my next appointment.¡± That being said, Percy turned around and left. After wasting several days pondering about what he should do, Percy chose to make his move. After all, trying hard and facing what lay ahead head-on was much better than running away from the inevitable. *** After leaving the royal palace, Percy walked through the bustling streets of the capital. He returned to the Dragon Lair shop, the small shop he had established before it became known that he was the crown prince of the Kainesh Kingdom. The last few weeks had been troublesome, especially with the loss of Sabrina. Sabrina was one of the Demi-Humans he¡¯d helped before. He picked up her and Louis, her brother, and gave them jobs. Unfortunately, the princess and Sabrina clicked well. They clicked too well, which was also why Sabrina was hired by the royal house to study with the princess and become her personal maid in the future. Sabrina learned many new things, and she enjoyed her life to the fullest with the princess as her best friend. That was great, even if it caused problems for the Dragon Lair shop. Percy was forced to hire a shop manager and a new guard because Louis had also been hired by the crown. Yet, instead of becoming the princess¡¯s bodyguard, Louis trained with the king''s Guard to protect Percy in the future. I have yet to understand how Louis is supposed to protect me in the future. I think I¡¯m doing a great job of protecting myself Percy thought and shrugged inwardly when he was reminded of his parents¡¯ comment about the need for a personal protector. He didn¡¯t deem it necessary, but his parents were a bit overprotective, to put it simply. After reuniting with their lost son, the son they¡¯d presumed dead for a decade, they didn¡¯t dare to leave him out of sight. If Percy hadn¡¯t said anything, the King and the Queen would have deployed half of the Kingsguard to protect him day and night. Fortunately, Percy could convince his parents to leave him be and that it would be dangerous to expose him like that. Everyone knew that the crown prince had returned, and some servants of the crown shared details about Percy, such as his appearance and personality. However, it was oddly easy to roam the capital without being exposed. His eyes were vibrant azure, a sign that the royal family, after the Synther house fell victim to their own schemes, should have exposed Percy everywhere, but nobody seemed to pay any attention to it. Other nobles would have hated being one of many, but Percy loved it. He didn¡¯t want to be treated special. All he wished for was to enjoy and live his life to the fullest. Unfortunately, Percy needed more power to attain such a seemingly simple goal. After all, the Devil was waiting for him. B3 Chapter 2 - Forging Prodigy ¡°Why won¡¯t you take them?¡± Percy held the young blacksmith with an iron tight grasp and tried to push something into his hands. ¡°I cannot take any more. You have already given me way too much. Your excellency¡­¡± Percy glared daggers at Bert, ¡°Percy¡­I can¡¯t accept this. All of this is already too much!¡± Bert pointed at everything around him. The room was nothing like his old smithy used to be, but that was only obvious. They didn¡¯t meet up at the old smithy. There was enough space in the room for several people of Bert¡¯s size to work simultaneously. A massive anvil was anchored in the room with a massive working table made of metal attached to it. Countless tools, Artifacts made by none other than Percy, covered one wall, while a high-quality smithy was docked to the wall next to it. The entire room was a treasure trove. A forging room with various tools ¨C Forging Artifacts ¨Cand several baskets filled with various rare ores and metals. Percy had provided all of it. He created more than a dozen forging artifacts with various enchantments for Bert, including a runic anvil, a runic forge, and so forth. At this point, Percy didn¡¯t even know how much gold and Prosperity he had invested into the forging room, but it didn¡¯t matter. The young blacksmith has been improving rapidly, but his development speed accelerated drastically the instant he offered him this room. ¡°I am investing in your growth. You shouldn¡¯t think too much about it. Just accept it and work like usual. You have been progressing rapidly, which is amazing even to the Grandmaster Blacksmith in the royal palace. He has been bragging about you. How could I stop investing in you, if he is bragging about your growth like that? I want to witness your growth and be part of it,¡± Percy responded and shrugged lightly. The forging room was indeed great, but it was only one of many rooms in the building Percy acquired recently. His parents didn¡¯t gift him the building or anything like that, but they helped him procure it. The paperwork to procure buildings in the capital was way too complicated for Percy. He understood a few things but he was never prone to anything related to bureaucracy. Percy paid for the building with the fortune the Old King had given to him. Even though the Old King said the money was the monthly allowance he should have received from a young age, Percy knew better. The Old King tried making up for the two assassination attempts with a pile of gold coins. And Percy had to say¡­it worked. He¡¯d looked at the whole situation from the Old King¡¯s point of view and acknowledged it. That didn¡¯t mean Percy was willing to die or that he would allow the Old King to keep hunting him down, which his grandfather stopped after realizing his mistake, but the money was a great way to apologize. Unfortunately, Percy was great at both earning money and spending it. Even though the building wasn¡¯t too close to the capital center and closer to the Dragon Lair shop, it cost him a great fortune. Still, Percy never thought it was a waste of money. If anything, he considered the price more than acceptable after learning about the real estate market in the capital ¨C that had been a big shocker for the young boy from the countryside. Once renovated, the building transformed into the perfect place to concoct potions and forge various goods. Enchantments were not as important to Percy, but he could only engrave certain enchantments on forged goods, which was why he needed enchanters to bring some variety into his Artifacts. He had yet to hire enchanters, but the Minister of Finances had been very helpful in searching for all kinds of Gifted apprentices. The building had been renovated, and ten forging rooms, six brewing chambers, and three enchanting halls were installed. Of course, none of the forging rooms were like Bert¡¯s forging empire, but that was mostly because Percy was still hiring trustworthy blacksmiths with decent potential. They didn¡¯t have to be as extraordinary as Bert turned out to be, but they had to be Gifted, thus capable of using Artifacts and Monster Cards, and needed to be both loyal and hard-working. Finding blacksmiths like that was easier said than done, which was why Percy was even happier to have Bert around. He wanted to keep him and make sure he would become the best of the best. Can¡¯t he see his potential his rapid growth? ¡°I think you don¡¯t understand how much more you could grow by accepting just a bit more nurturing from me,¡± Percy grumbled and ruffled through his hair, ¡°Then how about this? I will loan you these two Cards and you return them to me when I want them back. We will write down a contract to ensure the Monster Cards will always belong to me and that I will never give them to you,¡± Percy smiled as Bert¡¯s resistance crumbled. Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. ¡°I don¡¯t need these two Cards right now, and they would be wasted lying around, don¡¯t you think so?¡± Percy held two Monster Cards in his hands. They had been ordinary Monster Cards a while ago, but Percy Ego-enhanced them quite a bit. He¡¯d invested more than two million in Prosperity to unlock a bunch of interesting Augmentations that would help Bert become an even better blacksmith. [Monster Card ¨C Lesser Elemental (Mortal¨C???/Mutant) ¨C [Flame of Purity ??] ¨C [Minor Energy Boost ????] ¨C 108,935 Prosperity] [Monster Card ¨C Hobgoblin Blacksmith (Elite ¨C??] ¨C [A Smith¡¯s Sight???] ¨C [Basic Strength Boost ?] ¨C 436,923 Prosperity] Bert reached the Elite Tier not long ago. His forging affinity was higher than expected, so he progressed his Tier as he focused on forging. That kind of affinity was rare to find, but it was perfect for someone like Bert. His progress was slow at first, but it accelerated as his forging skills improved. ¡°Take them.¡± The Cards would help Bert become a Master Blacksmith in no time. ¡°I¡­¡± Bert crumbled slowly, ¡°I will only accept them as a loan. Using the method you said earlier, or something like that.¡± Percy agreed without hesitation. Loaning the Monster Cards and the Artifacts he¡¯d invested was much better than gifting them away since his Ego would still consider them as his property. That way, Percy could Ego-enhance them even though he would never use them again. He sure hoped this would work for the Monster Cards as well. After all, it would be much easier to Ego-enhance the Monster Cards whenever he considered it necessary rather than being forced to tell his employees to return the Cards and accept them again once the upgrades had been completed. It might not be important to others, but Percy researched something about the bond between Monster Card and Cardist that changed his mind. Under normal circumstances, it was difficult to strengthen the bond between Monster Card and Cardist. It was not something that could be done easily since a strengthened bond would increase the Monster Card¡¯s intelligence and potentially create a bridge between the Cardist and the Monster Card. A bridge that allowed both to learn from each other¡¯s understanding of various things, including the understanding and mastery of their Augmentation, but also combat and various other aspects. The Blueflame Hawk was a perfect example. At first, the Blueflame Hawk was a normal summon monster. It wasn¡¯t anything special. However, as Percy strengthened it while still being bound to the Monster Card, the bond between Cardist and Blueflame Hawk improved drastically. At this point, the bridge with the Blueflame Hawk was strong enough to sense what the Blueflame Hawk felt over a long distance. It could warn him of dangers with a mixture of emotions and images, and Percy was certain he could watch the mortal realm from above through the Blueflame Hawk¡¯s eyes if their bond continued growing. And that was certain to happen as long as the Monster Card stayed bonded with him while the Coin of Prosperity would enhance it using Prosperity. As long as I can upgrade the Monster Cards while they¡¯re bonded with Bert, I will be happy. If it works¡­There will be so many opportunities to transform ordinary Gifted Ones into proper powerhouses in no time. It required some more extensive testing, but Percy was confident. All he needed was more time ¡°These Cards¡­¡± Bert gasped in disbelief as two interfaces popped up before him, ¡°Are you sure it¡¯s fine to leave Cards like this to me?¡± I created them for you. Percy smirked at that thought ¡°Of course. They¡¯re all yours.¡± Bert¡¯s hands trembled violently as he accepted the Cards, and tears welled in his eyes. His life turned upside down ¨C in a good way ¨C when Percy appeared in his little shop. It hadn¡¯t been that long yet, but Bert knew one thing for sure. He owed Percy everything. If Percy hadn¡¯t been¡­would I be slaving away for the creditors or living on the streets? Bert wondered, his eyes lingering on the man who made everything possible for him. Maybe I would be dead now. Bert smiled sadly for a moment before the sadness was replaced with fierce determination. Percy noted the intensity in Bert¡¯s blazing eyes but didn¡¯t think much about it. He didn¡¯t know what Bert was thinking or that today was the day the blacksmith decided to stay by Percy¡¯s side no matter what the future had prepared for him. Even the gates of the Seven Hells weren¡¯t frightening enough to stop Bert. If Percy were to walk through them, Bert would follow him. B3 Chapter 3 - Earnings Percy was seen meeting with the Minister of Finances on multiple occasions, but today¡¯s meeting was different from their teaching sessions. Today was a meeting of equal standing¡ªa business gathering of two parties. ¡°The crown¡¯s request has been completed,¡± Percy announced while retrieving a grand total of ten Monster Cards from his spatial ring, ¡°Given the advance of one Imperial coin, the crown owes me a remainder of three Imperial coins.¡± His voice was clear and neutral, but the Minister of Finances wasn¡¯t listening. Her attention lingered on the Monster Card and the information displayed on it. [Monster Card ¨C Dragonhawk (Elite-??) ¨C [Pyromancy ??]] [Monster Card ¨C Behemoth Elephant(Elite-????) ¨C [Behemoth Skin ???] ¨C [Greater Charge ?]] [Monster Card ¨C Hobgoblin Champion(Elite-??) ¨C [Unarmed Combat Mastery ?????]] [Monster Card ¨C Goblin Scout (Common-???) ¨C [Minor Perception Boost ????] ¨C [Tracker?????]] [Monster Card ¨C Skeleton Warrior(Elite-?) ¨C [Raise Undead???] ¡­ ¡­ Only two out of ten Monster Cards didn¡¯t have a single Augmentation, but even that pair was worth a fortune. Overall, all Cards displayed were incredibly hard to come by as ordinary Cards, yet Percy ¡®procured¡¯ them as special Cards with one or multiple Augmentations. That excluded the pair of Cards, which Percy pushed from [Common-?????] to [Elite-?]. The increase in potential wasn¡¯t enough to evolve both Cards, but the species of one of them evolved after reaching Elite potential. The other Card required another push by upgrading its potential to [Elite-???]. That was a little bit more expensive than Percy had been hoping for, but the combined expenses for all upgrades were still within the expected failure rate. ¡°I hope the crown is satisfied with the transaction,¡± Percy declared in an official tone before gently adding, ¡°And I hope I didn¡¯t promise you too much.¡± The Minister of Finances took a few seconds to regain her senses. Her lips parted, but no word escaped for a good minute. Then she started laughing. ¡°You sure don¡¯t make any false promises. This is so much better than I expected!¡± The Minister revealed honestly while retrieving three silverish-golden shining coins from a small black, leathery pouch. ¡°To be honest, I was unsure if this would work out. Please, don¡¯t get me wrong, Your Excellency. I trusted your word, but it sounded so surreal.¡± Percy lifted his hand to stop the Minister of Finances, ¡°I understand. There is no need to worry.¡± He pushed the Monster Cards across the polished wooden table and accepted the three Imperial coins with a bright smile. [Imperial Coin ¨C Ordinary ¨C 12,000,000 Prosperity] [Imperial Coin ¨C Ordinary ¨C 12,000,000 Prosperity] [Imperial Coin ¨C Ordinary ¨C 12,000,000 Prosperity Imperial coins were hard to come by. Each was worth 1,000 gold coins and thus of immense worth. Yet, Percy procured four of them at once by paying an immense price to purchase and upgrade ten Monster Cards. A Common Monster Card of decent value ¨C no Augmentation but potential above four stars ¨C started at three gold coins in the capital. However, Monster Cards were rare to find at such a low price. Usually, Cards sold for three gold coins couldn¡¯t be used easily for combat or other highly profitable occupations and were thus essentially useless. That being said, most Common Monster Cards were sold for an average of ten gold coins. Decent special Common Cards went up to 25 gold coins, sometimes even higher. But that was a rare occasion. Elite Cards, without Augmentation, were difficult to come by and started at 20 gold coins and went up to more than 100 gold coins. For example, the Behemoth Elephant could be sold for more than 200 gold coins at [Elite-????] without any qualms. It was worth a fortune at auctions. Yet, Percy bought it as a [Elite-?] Monster Card for 40 gold coins. That was a lot without question, but the Behemoth Elephant with two powerful Augmentations could be sold for more than one Imperial Coin at the right auction. Even Gifted Ones at the Master Tier would buy the Behemoth Elephant Card resting on the table before them. This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Then again, I had to invest more Prosperity than the advance Imperial provided to upgrade all of those Cards. The total should be around 18 to 20 million Prosperity. Percy winced when he concluded how much Prosperity he¡¯d used and lamented his behavior inwardly. I should stop testing out so many things. If I keep going like this, I will end up making losses in the future. At the end of the day, he made a good profit from this deal. Nonetheless, he had been too much into the game of upgrading the Monster Cards to find out how much every upgrade influenced the Monster Card¡¯s prowess, Augmentations, and so forth. Percy had been researching the cost-efficiency of Ego-enhancing various objects for a while now, but he had yet to come to a proper solution when it came to ¡®When should I stop enhancing certain Cards, Artifacts, and other objects?¡¯ It was just too difficult to answer. ¡°You mentioned that your Ego is responsible for upgrading Monster Cards. Would it be easier for you if the crown provided the resources needed for the upgrades? I hope this doesn¡¯t offend you, but I am sure you are aware that the crown has a wider network than you, Your Excellency. We can prepare everything you need in addition to generous pay for every upgraded Monster Card,¡± The Minister of Finances mentioned hesitatingly. ¡°No offense taken,¡± Percy responded first, ¡°But what you are trying to tell me is that the crown wishes me to create specific Monster Cards ¨C the type and Augmentations will be chosen by the crown ¨C, while all I have to do is to upgrade the Cards¡­Is that it?¡± The Minister of Finances was about to respond, but Percy had not yet done so. ¡°You want to equip the Kingsguard or the Imperials with the same Monster Card, which has been upgraded as much as I can handle at my current level. You wish to create tens of powerhouses with Evolved Monster Cards, each with several powerful Augmentations,¡± He frowned deeper and deeper as the words flowed out of him. ¡°Equipping the Imperials and Imperial prospects with powerful Monster Cards will increase their combat prowess. Following that, it would be easier to repel the Demons spread across the kingdom while simultaneously protecting the borders of our neighbors. So¡­yes, I would love to do exactly that,¡± The Minister of Finances nodded vigorously. She retrieved a set of Monster Cards that looked exactly the same and added, ¡°You should be focusing on selling Cards to earn a fortune. With someone like you, crown prince, we could transform the Imperial, the Kingsguard, and the¡­¡± The Minister of Finances didn¡¯t stop talking, but Percy stopped listening. The corner of his lips tilted upward as understanding dawned upon him. She has everything prepared. What a sly woman. More than a dozen Cards of Wyvernblood Horses, powerful Monster Cards with the potential of a monster at the peak of the Elite Tier. ¡°It would be great if I could help the Kingsguard and the Imperial, but I will not prioritize their growth. I won¡¯t let the gap between the strong and the weak widen even further. The young noble heirs I have encountered before are already spoiled and consider themselves superior to others. They may respect the Kingsguard and Imperials, but do you think they would watch in silence as I transform the Kingsguard and Imperial into an unparalleled military force?¡± No, the nobles wouldn¡¯t remain silent. They were the pillars of the Kainesh Kingdom and obtained privileges in exchange for military support. There was no way to be certain how the nobles would react once their privileges were in danger. That was understandable, but the Minister of Finances was certain this issue could be solved easily. ¡°Furthermore, by transforming the Wyvernblood Horse Cards into Evolved Monster Cards with powerful Augmentations, I would probably destroy the kingdom¡¯s economy,¡± Percy added, ¡°Maybe not instantaneously, but I don¡¯t think you would stop with a single set of Wyvernblood Horse Cards.¡± Before the Minister of Finances could ask anything, Percy used [Consume] on the three Imperial Coins. The abomination burst from his palms, revealing the rows of razor-sharp teeth before it crashed heavily into the Imperial Coins. The temperature around them dropped by a few degrees, but it returned to normal when the abomination returned to where it belonged. [Three Imperial Coins have been consumed. 33,000,000 Prosperity has been added.] [Your Tier increased by one rank.] As the flood of mana entered his system, Percy glanced at the Minister of Finances. ¡°I¡¯ve just consumed three Imperial Coins worth of Prosperity. That¡¯s 3,000 gold coins,¡± He stated the obvious as a small smile blossomed on his lips, ¡°Do you want me to find out how much Prosperity it takes to upgrade the Wyvernblood Horse until it is strong enough to meet your requirements?¡± Percy¡¯s smile widened, ¡°For the records, I never created an Evolved Monster Card. The Behemoth Elephant is probably the strongest Card I¡¯ve enhanced with my Ego. That cost around 1,000 gold coins already.¡± The Minister of Finances paled as she realized how expensive it would be to transform one Wyvernblood Horse into a Peak Evolved Monster Card with multiple powerful Augmentations. She shuddered. The issue with the nobles could be solved easily, and the Minister of Finances was also not worried about the widening gap between the rich and powerful and the weak. As long as she stood on the right side of the rift, it didn¡¯t matter. However, the Minister of Finances didn¡¯t wish to support the destruction of the kingdom''s economy. If the crown supported the creation of dozens of powerful Evolved Cards, they would have to prepare more than one hundred thousand gold coins, maybe even more. ¡°If the creation of ten Monster Cards, not even Evolved Cards, is worth four Imperial coins¡­the crown would have to open their treasury and empty their emergency funds¡­¡± The Minister of Finances nibbled on her lower lip before she added in a defeated tone, ¡°Which is not acceptable.¡± Percy agreed to that. It would be great if he¡¯d received hundreds of Imperial Coins, which he would have consumed ¨C pushing his Tier up by another rank or two ¨C before investing the acquired Prosperity at once ¨C triggering another uprank, potentially two more upranks. He would be happy with that. However, he didn¡¯t wish to destroy the kingdom by messing with its economy. Then again¡­it wasn¡¯t like Percy had been doing something else all this time. He destroyed the economy, little by little since he acquired the Coin of Prosperity. B3 Chapter 4 - Expansion Percy wasn¡¯t proud of it, but it was a fact that he was destroying the economy. He didn¡¯t wish to do so, but to grow stronger and wealthier, Percy had to use his Ego. That being said, Percy said the only thing that came to his mind when the Minister of Finances paled. ¡°As the Minister of Finances, you should be thinking of a solution to stop me from destroying the economy. Rather than working with me or for me, you should devise a fool-proof plan to stop my Ego from destroying the kingdom¡¯s economy. It would be best if you wouldn¡¯t have to stop me from using my Ego, though. After all, I consider my Ego essential for the battle with the Demons and Devil that awaits us.¡± Percy considered joking around, but his voice betrayed him. ¡°You¡­You think the Devil will return? The Old King defeated one of the Devils more than two centuries ago, and there hasn¡¯t been a problem with them since. If we exclude the Synther¡¯s betrayal, of course,¡± The Minister of Finances swallowed hard, but as she thought about it a bit more, she could only agree, ¡°The increased Demon sightings might be a warning¡­or an appetizer.¡± ¡°I am not saying that I won¡¯t Ego-enhance anymore Monster Cards. I can do that if you want me to. However, you would have to pay me fairly on top of providing the Monster Cards and enough Prosperity to finish the job neatly. That won¡¯t be cheap,¡± Percy stated the obvious. He then reconsidered something and added, ¡°Except for one Monster Card. I will Ego-enhance one Monster Card for free if you help me with something.¡± Percy had been up to a few things since the nightmares started. The nightmares urged him to do something to change their final outcome, which was exactly what he was trying. There is no way to tell when the Devil will return, but I will be ready for you. The more time you waste, the easier it will be for the Kainesh Kingdom to defeat you! Percy shouted in his mind, clenching his fists tightly. ¡°Is that ¡®something¡¯ related to the proposal your parents have already rejected, Your Excellency?¡± The Minister of Finances squinted her eyes. Percy winced quietly ¡°They did not reject my proposal. Not exactly, at least. They told me to be careful with my expenses and to¡­¡± He waved his hand dismissively, ¡°That doesn¡¯t even matter. I know this will work!¡± The Minister of Finances cocked her eyebrow but gestured to him to explain. ¡°My plans are simple, you know?¡± Percy proceeded to tell the Minister of Finances everything, ¡°Since I have already purchased the Dragon Nest ¨C the building where I¡¯ve installed forging rooms, alchemy chambers, and enchanter halls ¨C all I need to do is hire enough loyal and hard-working blacksmiths, alchemists, and enchanters. It doesn¡¯t even matter if they are still apprentices, but who am I telling this? We have been discussing this part of my plan for a while now, and you have been helping me hire some people.¡± He snickered while the Minister of Finances recalled how she¡¯d offered him help with the building the crown prince had purchased. She was responsible for connecting the crown prince to some architects, the ministry of craftsmen, and so forth. ¡°But this is only the beginning. I also wish to hire a group of Gifted Ones. It doesn¡¯t matter whether they¡¯re Egos or where they come from. They have some affinity for combat, bloodshed, or the like. If I want this to work out, they need to grow stronger through combat.¡± Percy stopped for a second to study the Minister of Finances. She didn¡¯t say a word and waited for him to keep going. Her curiosity had been picked. ¡°My next move would be to provide the youngsters with enough resources, which also includes instructors of all kinds. If I want everything to work out as intended, I¡¯d need to hire some esteemed Weaponmasters, Blacksmiths, Alchemists, Enchanters, Managers, and more to instruct the youths working for me. The expenses would be horrendous, I am fully aware of that, but this is where I want to start. By nourishing elites from scratch.¡± The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. The most important stage in Percy¡¯s plan was to give the youths enough time to establish a proper foundation. As long as the blacksmith apprentices learned how to forge Perfect Quality goods made from iron ingots, just like Bert, they would not only be able to use their experience with iron to reach the next stage, but their profit-making ability would skyrocket as long as Percy reached out with his helping hand, or helping Ego. Iron Artifacts were still in high demand. If anything, their demand was still increasing. ¡°Once I start earning a profit, which won¡¯t take long given the nature of my Ego, I can start investing more heavily in the Gifted¡¯s growth. I can prepare Forging Artifacts, Brewing Artifacts, and much more as long as the young Gifted generate profit,¡± Percy pointed out, ¡°Eventually, I will start hiring Master Tier Gifted Ones by creating Cards for them. They will have to work for me for a few years ¨C the number of years will be determined in the contract once they¡¯re hired ¨C before the Card¡¯s property will be transferred to them.¡± The Minister of Finances¡¯ eyes glimmered as he revealed more and more intel about his grand plan. ¡°The Master Tier Gifted Ones will essentially work for you for free for years if you create a Master Card for them. Of course, the initial investment might be a heavy toll, but if you use those powerhouses and masters of their craft, it will be worth it. All you need is time,¡± She mumbled. ¡°You want me to help hire Master Tier Gifted Ones?¡± The Minister asked. Percy nodded before shaking his head. ¡°Yes, and no. I want you to vouch for me. You have been in charge of countless processes in the royal palace, the capital, and the whole kingdom for years now. Everyone knows you. They trust you more than they would trust me. Even if I am the crown prince, nobody knows me. My promises are worthless in their eyes. Therefore, I need you!¡± A faint smile blossomed on the Minister¡¯s face. ¡°I¡¯ve underestimated you, your excellency,¡± She acknowledged, her smile widening slowly, ¡°I¡¯m in!¡± Yes! Percy had to suppress the excitement boiling within him. He nearly yelled out his excitement at the top of his lungs. That would have been embarrassing. ¡°Where do we start?¡± He asked instead, his eyes glowing. The Minister looked at him, her smile now sly like a fox as she tapped one of the Wyvernblood Horse Cards. ¡°With your payment, of course.¡± Percy¡¯s excitement died instantly, but he nodded. ¡°Of course¡­¡± *** Only two weeks passed since his chat with the Minister of Finances, but a lot had changed. The Dragon Nest was now filled with younglings, more than a dozen Instructors had been hired by the Minister of Finances, and they created a Knight Order after discussing the pros and cons of managing one for days. The Dragon Knight Order was created with the crown prince¡¯s sponsorship. The emergence of a new Knight Order was unexpected, which was why news spread like wildfire. Gossip and rumors always spread the fastest, especially in a bustling place like the capital. Nonetheless, few Gifted Ones reached out to enter the crown prince¡¯s order, and most of them were only interested in the monetary gains and other benefits offered to all members of the Dragon Knight Order. That was expected, but it also gave Percy the leverage to pick out the most promising Gifted while rejecting those either too old or not suited for the tasks awaiting the Dragon Knight Order. Percy had been interested in some older Gifted Ones, but they weren¡¯t in their prime anymore. They didn¡¯t reach the Elite Tier before age 30 and would probably never break through. Nine trainees joined the Dragon Knight Order after going through the small stash of submission papers and the initial interviews, which was more than enough to get started. All of them were youthful Adventurers at the Mortal Tier and needed extensive training before they could be deployed, which was also expected. The combat instructors jumped into action right away. The teachings started, transforming the Dragon Nest into an educational institution, where the students also worked. They were part-time workers studying on the side to improve their education and understanding of their craft. It wasn¡¯t easy in the first few days as it was the instructors'' first time teaching like that, but everyone improved steadily. After a few days, the process was smooth enough to proceed without any further problems. That was good because Percy was struggling with some other projects. He founded a school and an orphanage in the capital! B3 Chapter 5 - Expansion II ¡°Your plan is to grant everyone a good standard of living.¡± The Minister of Finances mumbled while reading through the pile of papers she had been fighting for a while. ¡°That¡¯s about it,¡± Percy nodded, ¡°But the children are the real treasures of the Kainesh Kingdom.¡± It was fun to think about how often he and the Minister of Finances had been meeting in the last few weeks. Percy couldn¡¯t recall the last time they didn¡¯t see each other for more than 24 hours. That must have been weeks ago. ¡°Some of the children will gain access to mana, which will be noticed if all children have to go to school. You can start nurturing the Gifted Ones the day they awaken, which will change¡­everything. It is rare for the Gifted of common birth to advance to the Master Tier because they¡¯re discovered too late ¨C their precious opportunity to develop quickly will be wasted ¨C or their families do not have the means to support their children even if they wanted to. The school system you¡¯re proposing will change that.¡± The Minister of Finances nodded in agreement. ¡°The youthful Gifted Ones will be given everything they need to grow in the most suitable environment and will be given the opportunity to join the Knight Orders as long as they graduate with flying colors. There are some points that should be improved. For example, you can offer jobs to the normal graduates as well. For example, most graduates can be hired as shop managers. Maybe we should add a proposal to add a few weeks of practical work experience to give senior students an opportunity to find out what they¡¯re good at and what they want to do in the future. Still, overall, your proposal doesn¡¯t seem too bad. Did you show this to the Ministry of Education?¡± She asked. Percy nodded, but he groaned in frustration: ¡°This guy is an idiot. He doesn¡¯t want to ¡®waste¡¯ funding by investing in the education of the poor. I don¡¯t understand him, but I don¡¯t think I have to. The ministry of education is filled with jerks.¡± The Minister of Finances nodded in understanding, but he could also understand her colleagues¡¯ point of view. It was uncertain whether the school system would work or if it would be a waste of time and effort. Then again, if it were to work as intended, a handful of merchants and noble households would retaliate. Maybe not at first, but as the power of Gifted from common birth increases, more people of higher birth would stir. The status of the common folk would change slowly as their standard of education and power increases, potentially creating problems in the hierarchy at some point in time. Percy didn¡¯t care about that. His only hope was to start with as many projects as possible, both long-term and short-term, to prepare everyone for the Devil¡¯s arrival. Improving the educational standard and the opportunity for the common Gifted across the Kainesh Kingdom was crucial for most of these long-term plans. It may be expensive and wouldn¡¯t succeed in every region, but Percy hoped to find some diamonds in the rough with the potential to stay by his side and fight the hordes of demons once they stepped foot into the mortal realm. ¡°Can you talk to the Minister of Education?¡± Percy asked, but the Minister of Finances shook her head, ¡°He doesn¡¯t like me. Maybe¡­I punched him in the gut when he didn¡¯t stop pursuing me after he proposed to me thrice¡­¡± Percy¡¯s jaw dropped to the ground, but he regained his senses after a few seconds, ¡°Yeah¡­okay¡­that does make sense¡­¡± He scratched the back of his head and nodded slowly, ¡°Maybe I can convince my parents¡­¡± There was no confidence in his voice because he was certain his parents would find something wrong with his proposal. It had been like that for the past few weeks already. They were busy with various issues regarding the Beastlands and had little time to spare for Percy¡¯s plans and proposals. It was a nuisance, but Percy understood his parents. The problem with the Demons was already troublesome, but the issues with the Beastlands worsened everything. Percy couldn¡¯t remember the last time he saw his parents at ease and full of energy. All he could see these days was their exhaustion and lack of sleep. The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°I leave this here. If you change your mind, you can show it to the Minister of Education,¡± Percy tried one last time before turning around. He sighed deeply. Percy left the minister¡¯s office without wasting any more time. He disappeared, leaving the minister alone. However, she wasn¡¯t alone for long. A few seconds later, the door behind her opened, revealing Phillip Kain. ¡°Was it necessary to run away from your child, your majesty?¡± She asked the King, who smiled awkwardly, ¡°Your son has some great ideas, but it looks like he doesn¡¯t dare to show them to you. What do you think, your majesty?¡± ¡°I think I have a great son.¡± The Minister looked at the King with a ¡®That¡¯s not what I meant¡¯ look but didn¡¯t respond. She grasped Percy¡¯s paper stash and handed it to the king, who nodded slowly. He was proud of his son, but a trace of sadness overcame him. The path his son had taken wasn¡¯t going to be easy. Maybe it was one of the most challenging paths he could have chosen. But if it worked¡­If it worked, everything would change for the better. ¡°A reformation of the old system has long been overdue, either way.¡± *** Percy spent the rest of the day in the Dragon Nest¡¯s warehouse, Ego-enhancing hundreds of armaments and potions. If the Minister of Finances won¡¯t help me convince his people, the crown will probably not help me either. Gramps told me everyone would be against it, so it wasn¡¯t like I was hoping for a miracle¡­but still¡­ He ruffled through his hair in annoyance. In that case, I will fund everything. Since I started selling Monster Cards in the Dragon Lair, my income has been increasing. It won¡¯t be long before my income will increase even further. Percy did not only invest into other Gifted or the Dragon Nest. He also invested in the Dragon Lair shop, which he expanded. He leased four more buildings in the capital, spread across the four remaining districts, including a decentish building in the capital''s central district. The buildings were expensive to lease, but Percy was experienced enough to know how much money he could earn with his Ego-manufactured Artifacts and what items were the most sought out in each district ¨C that one took a while to figure out, but it worked eventually ¨C and how much he would have to invest to make the most profit most efficiently. It was hard and it was certainly not perfect, but Percy gave his utmost. He worked hard and spent sleepless nights improving everything. Still, his businesses were still far from perfect. But it was a start. A very good one. If not for the complaints and reports from dozens of merchants and nobles with one or multiple businesses spread across the capital and the Kainesh Kingdom. If you¡¯re unwilling to work hard to retain your customers, you shouldn¡¯t start your business in a highly competitive field. You can complain about sudden losses all you want, but nobody will care. At least, that was what Percy had been hoping for. Unfortunately, the problem was more extensive than the sudden loss of profit. Some merchants were unwilling to accept the Dragon Lair¡¯s rise to the top and chose to go down the wrong path. They hired ruffians to beat everyone who purchased something from the Dragon Lair shop. That was shocking, but it was also an opportunity to get rid of the corrupted businessmen who had been tarnishing the roots of the Kainesh Kingdom for way too long. A reformation was needed, and that did not only involve the educational system. B3 Chapter 6 - Dragonblood Percy was glad as days of silence¡ªno more nightmares plagued him at night¡ªtransformed into weeks, then months. The sightings of Demons increased consistently, but after the crown shared its information network with the Guild, most problems related to the Seven Hells could be solved with minimal casualties. At least, that was what the reports stated. Percy grew restless the more time without any concrete information about the Devil¡¯s actions passed. Still, all he could do was to work hard, nurture the students in the Dragon Nest, train with the Dragon Knight trainees, and keep Ego-enhancing Monster Cards, Artifacts, and potions. Percy had long since lost count of how much Prosperity he¡¯d invested in the last few months, but he could tell it had been a lot. If not for that, the Minister of Finances wouldn¡¯t have started avoiding him. She glared at him in anger whenever they crossed paths and cursed him ¨C jokingly most of the time ¨C because he destroyed the economy. The crown had requested a few more Monster Cards, mostly mounts with speed-related Augmentations, to equip Imperials and other powerhouses. The mounts were used to pursue the demons sighted across the Kainesh Kingdom. Percy considered Ego-enhancing the Monster Cards for free and only to request enough coins to upgrade the Cards, but decided against it when he recalled the kingdom¡¯s treasury. It was filled to the brim. If the crown wished to use his service, they would have to pay for it. The Old King approved of that attitude, but the Minister of Finances wasn¡¯t all that pleased. After all, the crown requested too many special Monster Cards, while Percy asked for an atrocious price for his service. It was saddening, but Percy couldn¡¯t be too nice to the Minister of Finances. He needed as much Prosperity as possible to grow stronger. Maybe the Devil wouldn¡¯t reach the mortal realm for another year or two, but the devious creature might as well arrive on the mortal plane the next day. Nobody could tell for sure. Percy arrived in his room after obtaining the last payment from the Minister of Finances, and he pulled Dragon Fang, the eerily black blade with crimson vein-like lines, out of the mark on the back of his right hand. The obsidian mark dimmed as he held the Syreablade, Dragon Fang, in his hands. He grasped the blade tightly and inspected it with [Consume] used on Prosperity. [Dragon Fang(Syreablade) ¨C Perfect/Soulbound(Percy Kain) ¨C 219,536,923 Prosperity.] [Dragon Might], [Absolute Slash], [Vampiric Slash] [Growth?????], [Super Sensory???], [Limit Break?????], [Dragonblood?] Percy had been interested in Dragon Fang¡¯s enchantments for a while, but he¡¯d waited for a long time before checking what kind of enchantments his Ego could engrave on the royal heirloom. He was shocked to the core when he discovered that Dragon Fang acted like a Monster Card and an Artifact. Runic enchantments could be engraved on it, but his Prosperity could also be used to unlock Augmentations. Every enchantment and Augmentation looks incredible, but I can only afford one of them. That has to be a bad joke. I have been diligently putting Prosperity aside whenever I could, but only [Dragonblood] can be unlocked? That was a shocker, but Percy went through with it nonetheless. Today, of all days, Percy needed more strength. It was crucial to show himself in the best possible way this afternoon. Thus, he went through with it. [Dragon Fang¡¯s Augmentation -[Dragonblood?] has been unsealed. 250,000,000 Prosperity has been consumed.] [Your Tier increased by one.] 250,000,000! Percy nearly blurted aloud, but he kept his mouth shut. The flood of mana entering his body cleansed his anger, most of it, leaving him confused and only slightly agitated. ¡°You better be useful!¡± He grumbled as [Dragonblood] jumped into effect. Dragon Fang transformed into a black wisp and returned to the obsidian Syreablade mark on the back of his hand. But that was only the beginning. If only [Dragonblood]¡¯s effect would be over already. Percy sensed instinctively that something was changing, and he had yet to activate [Dragonblood]. No, activating [Dragonblood] wasn¡¯t an issue. The bigger problem was that the [Dragonblood] Augmentation was already active and couldn¡¯t be deactivated. It¡¯s a passive Augmentation! Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. Percy screamed in his mind as molten lava spurted out of his heart. At least, that was what it felt like. His heart palpated wildly, but that didn¡¯t help Percy in the slightest. If anything, his wildly beating heart made everything worse. It spread the molten lava through his veins and arteries until every part of his body was melting from the inside. Fortunately, that didn¡¯t actually happen. It was just that Percy felt like his body was melting. His legs caved in from the pain, and he crashed to the floor, where he released a pained roar. Yet, instead of roaring like a human in pain, his roar was accompanied by something else. By something old and powerful. The roar of a dead dragon erupted from the deepest parts of Percy¡¯s body. It hurts. Everything hurts so much! Why is it so painful? Tears welled up in his eyes, but he couldn¡¯t tell if they were the cause of his blurry sight. He was nauseous, in unbearable pain, and felt like collapsing at any moment as the streams of molten lava started circulating through his body. His clothes were drenched in sweat and clung onto his body like a second skin, but Percy couldn¡¯t feel them anymore. His senses were numb other than his pain receptors. They were active and shared every dirty detail of his pain with Percy as if he wanted to know. But all he wanted was not to be in pain. He roared once more as more molten lava oozed out of his heart, but this time, he couldn¡¯t keep going anymore. The last he remembered was the doors to his room bursting open. A moment later, darkness enveloped him. *** Percy wasn¡¯t out for long. Only a few minutes must have passed when he regained consciousness again. He was lying on the bed, surrounded by more than a dozen people whose attention was split between staring at him or ushering the crown¡¯s healers to heal him faster and to take care of him. Percy was not in pain anymore, but he groaned in relief and satisfaction as a cooling sensation washed over him. ¡°Percy!¡± Someone exclaimed to his right, but it sounded like the voice came from far away. He turned and his family entered his view. Sophia was trying to jump onto the bed to reach out for her brother and tend to his wounds, but the Queen pulled her back. The princess complained but Reina didn¡¯t allow her daughter to bother her brother. ¡°Percy needs rest. He cannot play with you right now,¡± She reminded her daughter calmly. ¡°But I want to heal him! I need to help him!¡± Sophia responded in defiance. ¡°You can help him the best by staying here. Our healers are doing everything humanly possible to tend to his¡­condition.¡± Phillip said before ruffling through his daughter¡¯s hair Sophia didn¡¯t like that. She stared at her father as if she was about to start brawling with her father. ¡°I¡¯m fine, don¡¯t worry,¡± Percy wanted to say in a confident tone, but a creaking and cracking voice was all that left his lips. ¡°You are fine?¡± Phillip turned to Percy with a frown. His expression was easy to interpret. ¡®You don¡¯t see what I see.¡¯ ¡°Is it that bad?¡± Percy wondered. He didn¡¯t feel bad. If anything, he felt excellent, if not for the mix of starvation, mana exhaustion, thirst, and soreness all over his body. Even his skin was sore and itchy. ¡°You shed your skin like a serpent,¡± The Old King commented, ¡°Twice.¡± He pointed at something on the ground, probably the remnants of Percy¡¯s skin, which had yet to be cleaned. ¡°And I don¡¯t know what exactly you did to achieve this, but you nearly died of bloodlust. There is not a single wound on your body. Your temperature was way too high ¨C the Healers told us that your blood was boiling, but I don¡¯t know about that one ¨C and your blood, no your entire presence, is different now,¡± The Old King explained, ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯ve done. Still, your eyes are brighter than before, the traces of mana entering your body are purified beyond perfection, and your body has been consuming infusions of nutrition solutions en masse.¡± The Queen cleared her throat, ¡°You look like you¡¯ve been starving for weeks when we entered the room after the¨C...¡± ¡°Dragon roaarrrr!¡± Sophia explained. ¡°Yes, after the dragon roar.¡± Percy nodded slowly. He couldn¡¯t sense the changes happening to him yet, but the interface seemed to be of the same opinion as the Old King. [The Azure Dragon¡¯s blood has been detected in your bloodstream. [Dragonblood] has been triggered.] [The blood of the Azure Dragon has awakened.] [[Dragonblood] completed the cleansing process. The Dragon Youngling¡¯s heart and veins have been cleansed, strengthened, and expanded. Physique has been refined, and impure blood has been removed.] [The Azure Dragon¡¯s Essence has been infused into the remnants of ¡®acceptable¡¯ blood to refine the youngling¡¯s subpar health and beastial regeneration.] [Keep refining your bloodline to acquire the power of the Azure Dragon.] That¡­was a little unexpected. Percy had been expecting a lot of weird notifications, but these weren¡¯t among them. B3 Chapter 7 - The Crown Princes Task ¡°You¡¯re trying to tell me you could add an Augmentation to the Syreablade with your Ego?¡± The Old King asked, his eyes narrowed to tiny slits as he added in a whisper, ¡°Adding an Augmentation to a weapon¡­seven hells¡­¡± Percy chuckled, but a husky laugh followed by a groan was all that escaped his lips, ¡°I know how that sounds, but that is what I did.¡± ¡°And adding the Augmentation to Dragon Fang triggered your bloodline and awakened it,¡± The King joined the conversation.¡± ¡°Are you a dragon now?¡± Sophia asked excitedly. Percy was about to respond when he realized something. I don¡¯t think triggering the Azure Dragon bloodline transformed me into a full-fledged dragon. I look too human for that. But¡­isn¡¯t our entire family part dragon in some way? Father said we¡¯re the offspring of the Azure Dragon, so¡­in some way, we are all dragons¡­ I think? The Queen studied him for a few seconds in worry, but it didn¡¯t take long before her worry transformed into anger. ¡°Why did you do that?¡± Percy wiggled a little uncomfortable. If possible, he would have made a run for it. Unfortunately, that wasn¡¯t a feasible option, and he would have to face his mother¡¯s question head-on. ¡°It might have been a stupid idea, I know that now, but I wanted to be fully prepared for this afternoon.¡± ¡°This afternoon?¡± The Queen asked Percy and looked over to the King and his father when her son wouldn¡¯t answer. ¡°You were serious about this?¡± The King inquired from Percy, who nodded with fiercely burning determination shimmering in his eyes. ¡°What is going on?¡± The Queen demanded answers, ¡°I do not like that I have no idea what is going on.¡± Percy and the King looked at each other in discomfort, hoping the Queen would leave them be. Unfortunately, they¡¯d woken the restless beast. Her son got injured because of some preparations for something she wasn¡¯t aware of. A secret between father and son. Under normal circumstances, she would have been happy if Phillip and Percy got closer, but neither did she like secrets nor adore seeing her beloved injured. It had only been a few months since she reunited with her son. She didn¡¯t want to lose him again. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you were planning to join the envoy,¡± The Old King put the pieces together a little faster than the Queen, but Reina concluded what was happening a mere moment later. ¡°The envoy to the Beastlands?!¡± She exclaimed, her eyes narrowed in fury. Even though the Guild and the crown¡¯s forces worked well to pursue and decimate the demons sighted all across the kingdom, they did not have an easy time dealing with the issues arising in the Beastlands. The Beast King was seen near the borders multiple times in the last few weeks. He didn¡¯t attack the border defenses, but his appearance at the border came close to a declaration of war. The Beast King was a Gifted of unparalleled power. Even the Old King considered the Beast King as a formidable threat. Percy and his grandfather had been talking about it a few times, and they concluded that it would be best to befriend the Beastmen and pull the Beast King to their side. The Beast King would be the perfect ally in an all-out war against one of the Devils and the demon hordes. He and his Beastmen possessed the power the Kainesh Kingdom needed in a fight against the Seven Hells. Another war with the Beastlands was the last thing they needed. Too many good people would die needlessly, further weakening the defense lines against the demon hordes.You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story. ¡°The Beast King accused us of breaking the peace treaty,¡± Percy mumbled, ¡°I don¡¯t remember the exact words written in the report, but he must have mentioned something about hunters roaming through the woods of the Beastlands, kidnapping and enslaving their children. There are also rumors about hunters spreading poison into the food of the monsters they¡¯re hunting. That is another problem, but it is not as grave as accusing us of slavery, especially after Father abolished slavery after the war ended in the first place.¡± There were a few more problems entailed in the Beast King¡¯s accussion, which was why nobody took it lightly. Phillip Kain and the Old King met with the Beast King a few times and understood he wouldn¡¯t accuse them of something if he didn¡¯t have concrete evidence. ¡°The Beast King seems to have proof to back his accusation. That means there is an underground operation revolving around the enslaved Beastmen in the kingdom. Since the crown hasn¡¯t heard anything about it ¨C not even our secret information network ¨C this will take some time to solve. That is the problem. We do not have any time. The Beast King and his subjects are in fury. The tension at the border is increasing by the day, and it certainly doesn¡¯t help us that the number of demon sightings is still increased,¡± The King explained to everyone present, even though most of them were already aware of the intel. ¡°We need to soothe the Beast King¡¯s wrath while researching and annihilating everything related to the slavers. That is only possible by showing the Beast King that the crown and nobles have nothing to do with the disappearance of his subjects. We cannot afford another war with the Beastlands.¡± ¡°That is why I will join the envoy to the Beastlands,¡± Percy said, ¡°I wanted to tell Father about my decision this afternoon. That¡¯s why I unsealed the [Dragonblood] Augmentation of the Syreablade. I was already close to ranking up and was hoping the Syreablade¡¯s Augmentations would enhance my prowess even further so that you and Father wouldn¡¯t have to worry.¡± ¡°You won¡¯t go,¡± The Queen responded decisively. ¡°Yes, I will,¡± Percy retorted instantly. He didn¡¯t expect to receive his mother¡¯s approval, but that wasn¡¯t necessary. She couldn¡¯t force him to stay in the royal palace and the capital forever. ¡°The envoy consists of multiple future Imperials, but also noble heirs. Maybe some houses are trying to connect to the Beastlands or to demonstrate their loyalty to the crown, but we are nothing more than a ¡®security¡¯ to the Beast King. I know you might not like the sound of it, but someone from the royal family has to be part of the envoy as insurance, and I will be damned if I let my sister join this envoy.¡± Reina¡¯s lips parted to say something, to burst aloud in fury, but the rational part of her mind urged her to stay silent and think about what was just said. She looked at her daughter before throwing glances at everyone else who was present while nibbling on her lower lip. ¡°In that case, I will¨C...¡± ¡°You cannot leave. You are the Queen and shouldn¡¯t join the envoy. If I join the envoy, we can say that my first mission as the crown prince is negotiating with the Beast King. I was willing to join the envoy and accept more responsibilities. However, if you join the envoy, it will seem more like you are willing to become the Beastlands¡¯ hostage. Maybe some nobles will think of it similarly if I join the envoy, but most will praise the crown for¡­their actions,¡± Percy was about to say something else at the end but decided against it. There was no need to worry his mother any further. ¡°It¡¯s too dangerous!¡± The Queen shook her head in denial, but the Old King spoke this time, ¡°But it will be even more dangerous if there will be no negotiations. Percy has the authority to make decisions in the name of the crown, which is exactly what we need right now. Furthermore, Percy is a much better pick than you. I¡¯m sorry, but you and the King are too weak.¡± The King stared daggers at his father, but the Old King only shrugged, ¡°You barely ascended two years ago. When I was your age, I was already an Exalted. Don¡¯t get me wrong. I am not saying this to talk down to you and your progress, but Beastmen respect the young and powerful. That was also why they praised this bastard Baron Levian Darkai so much. I was forced to surrender the Moonlight Forest to that bastard!¡± The Old King was about to keep raging, but the Queen¡¯s deadly gaze stopped him. He cleared his throat and said what had to be said. ¡°Percy is already at the Master Tier and has progressed quite a bit. He will become an Ascended before the age of 18 even if he doesn¡¯t do anything but stay in his shop. However, Percy is not weak either. His prowess is excellent. The Weaponmasters have been praising Percy¡¯s diligence and progress since he joined the Kingsguard¡¯s training,¡± The Old King revealed, ¡°The Beastmen will love Percy once he reveals his prowess. That is great and definitely something we need if we want our negotiations with the Beast King to succeed.¡± The King nodded approvingly and added, ¡°Furthermore, Percy needs to socialize with our neighbors. We need to prepare him to take over the reins from me when it¡¯s time for me to step down from the throne.¡± Reina was taken by surprise by her husband¡¯s comment. She had a lot to say, but the King¡¯s words swallowed her commentary. But she wasn¡¯t the only one taken by surprise. Percy stared at his father and grandfather and swallowed hard. Are they already planning¡­No, they wouldn¡¯t¡­right? B3 Chapter 8 - Royal Duel I The location of their family meeting changed to the dining hall after the Healer gave them the okay. Percy remembered struggling to reach the dining hall with his mother¡¯s support, but the rest was a blur. Sophia demanded Percy to play with him, but it was like the princess was talking to a wall. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with Percy? Is my brother broken?¡± She asked her mother, who studied Percy for a few seconds. A smile blossomed on her lips. ¡°He¡¯s in a trance. Wait and see for yourself,¡± Reina ruffled through Sophia¡¯s hair as big plates of food were brought inside. They were put down before Percy, who was in dire need of nutrients. The others had already eaten, which was also why the servants were so surprised when they were told to prepare more than a dozen dishes for Percy. The royal family wouldn¡¯t normally waste food like that. Fortunately, Percy didn¡¯t wait long to clear all doubts. He made sure the servants understood that no food was going to be wasted. His eyes lit up at the sight and smell of the food before him, and he started right away. Percy started slow, but after the first bite melted in his mouth, it was over. His stomach thundered loudly, startling Sophia. However, the young princess was even more shocked at the sight unfolding before him. Her brother wasn¡¯t her brother anymore. He was a starving beast! Percy regained his senses only after a stack of more than 20 empty plates towered next to him. He was still hungry, but it was not too bad anymore. He felt much better than expected. ¡°Amazing.¡± Percy heard the Old King murmur. He looked up and tilted his head. ¡°You¡¯re overflowing with mana,¡± The King explained while the Old King kept staring at him. Percy looked down and smiled. He was covered in several layers of highly purified mana. It was hard to find mana of such purity anywhere in the kingdom. Since when is my mana this pure? That¡¯s probably [Dragonblood]¡¯s doing. That¡¯s neat! He smiled and retracted the mana. ¡°Sparkles!¡± Sophia exclaimed, pointing at Percy, who had also noticed his sparkling skin. ¡°Every woman of the kingdom will envy you for your skin if they see you,¡± Reina teased her son in a light tone, but her eyes told a different story. A hint of envy flickered in her eyes as she studied his flawless, shining skin. The damage to his skin, such as the scar caused by a Berserk Rabbit, and the corner ¨C the product of his diligent training ¨C were no more. They had been expelled with the skin he had shed this morning. Percy studied his body, the smile on his lips never ceasing. My skin is much tougher than it used to be, but it¡¯s also soft and comfortable to touch. Unlike before, mana is coursing through them. Not much mana coursed through his skin at a time, yet there was always a little bit. However, by focusing more mana on his skin, Percy felt it stiffen and toughen up. The skin on his arms compressed and deformed, or so it looked at the first glance. At a second glance, Percy studied his arm more intently. ¡°That looks almost like a scale made from human skin,¡± The King noted after noticing what Percy had been doing. Percy retrieved a small dagger from his spatial ring and cut into his skin. It wasn¡¯t a deep cut, but he was surprised how much force he had to apply. It should have been much easier to cut his skin. Once he retracted the dagger, mana flowed naturally to his wound. It spread around the cut, stopped the bleeding in record time, and closed the wound within minutes. ¡°Beastial regeneration,¡± Percy murmured before repeating the same process with the human scale. He pressed the dagger blade against the human scale and tried cutting into his skin, but he realized quickly that he required more strength. Thus, he applied more force until a cracking noise attracted his attention. The dagger cracked and shattered. ¡°Ooh,¡± He blurted out while the Queen mumbled, ¡°Seven Hells. Why is my son cutting himself? Can¡¯t I have a normal child?!¡±Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. ¡°I am normal!¡± Sophia responded in excitement, but all she received as a response was a particular gaze. ¡®Are you sure about that?¡¯. ¡°How do you feel?¡± The King inquired. Percy had yet to stop experimenting with the changes, yet one thing was certain, ¡°I feel great. Now that I¡¯m not starving anymore, I feel better than ever.¡± The King nodded, his eyes glimmering, ¡°In that case, let¡¯s spar.¡± Percy stopped his inspection and stared at his father. Even the Old King and the Queen were looking at Phillip Kain in surprise. The King stopped sparring a long time ago. ¡°You have to show me what you¡¯ve got if you want to join the envoy, representing the crown.¡± Percy flashed a smile at that. ¡°Alright then¡­let¡¯s spar!¡± *** Percy and his father, followed by his mother, grandfather, and sister, approached the Kingsguard¡¯s training ground in the back of the royal palace. The training ground was a massive open area right next to the royal forest¡¯s entrance and it had everything the Kingsguard needed to develop and improve their combat skills, physical fitness, and discipline. The runic combat dummies, the archery range, and the parkour, which was connected to the royal forest, didn¡¯t attract their interest right now, but Percy liked them a lot. He loved the obstacle course that led through half of the royal forest and he liked the area prepared for cavalry training as well. ¡°Do you want to spar in the combat rings?¡± Percy asked his father, who shook his head, ¡°Let¡¯s use the sparring area.¡± The sparring area was a simple sand field surrounded by runic pillars, which activated when two sparring parties used the arena. The runic pillars were engraved with simple runic enchantments that lit up when someone was either seriously injured or about to sustain a deadly wound. It took the Enchanters months to configure the runic enchantments to light up right before someone would be lethally wounded. It was not yet perfect, but the final result was as close to perfection as it could be. ¡°The runic pillar will determine the winner,¡± Phillip Kain said lightly, ¡°So don¡¯t even think about holding back.¡± You are already an Ascended. I don¡¯t know if I can injure you even if I¡¯d wanted to. He thought but didn¡¯t speak up. Instead, he walked up to the sparring area where the Kingsguard was training. ¡°Great, the royal family!¡± Someone shouted at the top of his lungs, interrupting the Kingsguard¡¯s training across the massive training ground. The training came to a sudden halt as everyone turned to the royal family to salute the crown. I still hate this Percy grumbled in his mind, recalling the dozens of times the Kingsguard had saluted to him. To his dismay, that was the easier part. It was uncomfortable, but it got worse. The Kingsguard wouldn¡¯t move until he, or some other member of the royal family, gave the command. ¡°At ease,¡± Phillip said after a second, which resulted in another commotion as the Kingsguard lowered their salute. The Weaponmasters, two women and an elderly man stepped forward and approached the royal family. ¡°How may I be of your service, your Excellencies?¡± The elderly man hinted at a polite bow, which the female Weaponmasters replicated. ¡°I wish to spar with my son,¡± The King announced loud enough for most men and women of the Kingsguard to hear. Some raised their eyebrows as they couldn¡¯t remember the last time they saw their king hold a weapon other than the knives at the dining table, while others smiled at Percy. Percy trained often with the Kingsguard, and they knew what he was capable of. However, they had yet to see him fight for real. Percy separated from his family and moved closer to the sparring area, where he discovered Louis, the Demi-Human. He smiled at his friend, who inched closer with a complex expression. ¡°I didn¡¯t know you were a fighter.¡± Louis mentioned while quickly adding a ¡°Your Excellency.¡± when members of the Kingsguard glared at him. ¡°I helped your sister before, Louis. Did you forget that already?¡± ¡°Of course not¡­Your Excellency,¡± Louis hurriedly shook his head, ¡°It¡¯s just that I never saw you fight. Dealing with that jackass in the Guildhall was one thing, but fighting the King¡­I don¡¯t know, Your Excellency.¡± Percy snickered but didn¡¯t say anything else. He turned around and waited for his family as he heard the elderly Weaponmaster say something. ¡°No problem, Your Majesty. We will leave the premises right away,¡± Phillip nodded, but the Old King intercepted, ¡°Let the Kingsguard stay.¡± The King studied his father for a few seconds. ¡°They should see this,¡± The Old Kingt¡¯s eyes glimmered, ¡°I want them to witness how powerful the next ruler will be!¡± B3 Chapter 9 - Royal Duel II The King changed into more suitable clothes for combat with a wave of his hands. He was shrouded in dark mana for a second and changed into light armor. A sword sheath was suddenly attached to his belt alongside multiple sheaths reserved for daggers. I need to learn how to do this, too! What an amazing display of mana. Percy marveled at his father¡¯s technique but also heard the Queen calling him a show-off. Percy could only agree with that. His father was a show-off. That was what made him even more interesting. ¡°You should change as well,¡± Phillip told his son, who nodded slowly. However, Percy¡¯s attention was glued to the King¡¯s armor. It took him a while to divert his attention from the light armor made from a material that was azure mixed with silver. Percy didn¡¯t know much about the azure-silverish material other than a simple fact: Most kings owned armor made of the same material. I wonder what enchantments I could engrave on them with my Ego. Percy was curious, but he retrieved his armor and put it on without any hesitation. It had been a while since he wore any armor, but it didn¡¯t feel bad to change into the light armor attached with some metal parts to protect most vital points. His parents gifted him the armor when he joined the Kingsguard¡¯s training for the first time. It had been customized and adjusted not even two weeks ago, yet Percy noticed something was amiss. The armor didn¡¯t fit anymore. ¡°You got bigger,¡± Someone from the Kingsguard noticed the obvious. Percy recalled the voice ¨C it was one of the guys he¡¯d been sparring with during the Kingsguard training ¨C and nodded slowly. ¡°Let me help you,¡± The King muttered as he stepped closer. He helped Percy resize the leather armor by loosening the leather straps. The only issue was that some areas couldn¡¯t be adjusted easily, forcing the King to shove Percy into the armor. It wasn¡¯t too bad or massively uncomfortable, but Percy made a mental note to procure new armor as soon as possible. Ugh¡­Can¡¯t I fight without armor? Please?! He shook his head quickly while some members of the Kingsguard chuckled until the Weaponmasters glared dagger at them. Percy didn¡¯t mind the Kingsguard¡¯s actions. If anything, he felt closer to them if they made fun of the situation with him rather than gossiping about it behind his back. Percy took a deep breath and walked over to the weapon rack, where Phillip Kain was about to reach for a longsword when he spoke up. ¡°I told you to go all out.¡± Percy¡¯s eyebrows arched, but he complied. His left hand covered the obsidian Syreablade mark on the back of his right hand and squeezed tightly. However, Percy¡¯s fingers coiled around Dragon Fang instead of squeezing his hand. The pitch-black handle was first to emerge from the back of his right hand, followed by the eerily black blade covered in crimson vein-like streaks. The crimson streaks pulsated in tact to his heart, filling Percy with a wave of euphoria. As he held Dragon Fang in both hands, it vibrated as if alive and excited about being put to use for the first time since their bond had been established. How is it possible that my connection to the Syreablade is stronger than before? It¡¯s almost like [Dragonblood] is even more potent when I hold the Syreablade. Percy¡¯s blood was not yet boiling, but it churned, simultaneously stimulating his blood and mana circulation. Every inch of his body was enhanced by highly purified mana, yet Percy felt he could unravel more of his body¡¯s potential if he wanted to. [Dragonblood] was not yet at its limit. It was far from an ordinary Augmentation. That much was clear. It was stronger than the average Augmentation. Better. It was like the Syreablade was part of his body and that [Dragonblood] was always supposed to be there. ¡°Is everyone ready?¡± The elderly Weaponmaster, acting as the referee of the royal duel, inquired from the two parties.Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original. Percy nodded absentmindedly, his senses skyrocketing as every doubt and worry dispersed. His full attention lingered on his father and the fight ahead of them. He was ready. Since he told me to go all out¡­ Time seemed to slow down all of a sudden as the elderly Weaponmaster¡¯s voice boomed across the training grounds. ¡°Fight!¡± Both parties moved the instant the Weaponmaster¡¯s voice reached them. The sand underneath the King¡¯s feet stirred up, and his muscles contradicted. His presence seemed to expand, overwhelming the closest Kingsguard, who retreated instinctively as he charged ahead. He smoothly unsheathed a thin ivory-colored sword as he charged forward and activated one of its runic enchantments. The weapon blurred before Percy¡¯s eyes until he activated [Hawk Eyes]. His eyesight was already excellent, but following the boost granted from [Hawk Eyes] and [Dragonblood], Percy could see the ivory blade again. It whipped forward and nearly cut deep into his face if not for him lifting Dragon Fang in time. Percy¡¯s eyes narrowed to tiny slits as the King repeated a quick sequence of multiple sword thrusts and slashes, but he blocked or evaded them easily. His reaction time and agility worked wonders combined with [Hawk Eyes] and [Blade Mastery], improving his understanding of all blades. The father-son duo whirled across the sparring area. At first glance, it looked like the King was at an advantage, but his attacks didn¡¯t connect. The King¡¯s eyes narrowed to tiny slits when he couldn¡¯t inflict a single cut on his son¡¯s marvelous face. Peals of sweat poured down Percy¡¯s face, but it seemed impossible for the King to wipe the smile off his son¡¯s face. What a tragedy. Phillip Kain clicked his tongue and gathered the surrounding winds behind him and under his feet. His boots barely scratched the sand underfoot at this point, but Percy couldn¡¯t study that. He was forced to face the King after he went up a gear. His agility increased by leaps and bounds, and it didn¡¯t take long before the ivory blade whizzed past Dragon Fang. Percy twisted his upper body and head, but the King had predicted his move. He moved closer and adjusted the ivory blade¡¯s trajectory. Percy cursed inwardly, but he didn¡¯t panic. Quite the contrary. Percy was eerily calm as the ivory blade shot toward his face. He activated [Frostbite] and coated his left cheek in thick ice, blocking the ivory blade mere millimeters before it cut him. Simultaneously, Percy initiated the first counterattack. He kept [Frostbite] active and conjured several icicles before him. The King was still close and thus in perfect range of the icicles. Percy released the icicles with a horrifying velocity. They reached top speed near-instantly and smashed into their targets; One hitting the King¡¯s chest, pushing him away, while the other struck his sword arm. Unfortunately, the freezing properties of the icicles didn¡¯t cause any harm. The King covered the targeted spots with enough mana to repel the freezing properties. Nonetheless, Percy was satisfied with the result. [Frostbite] worked. Is it just me, or are the Augmentations stronger than they used to be? It has been a while since I used them in combat¡­but they shouldn¡¯t be this strong, right? Maybe that¡¯s another effect of [Dragonblood]? Percy was unsure about that, but it came to his advantage. He used the opportunity to conjure more [Frostbite] icicles while simultaneously freezing the ground around the King¡¯s feet to slow him. At the same time, Percy shot forward. He kept [Hawk Eyes] and [Blade Mastery] active while relying on his pair of Boost Augmentations to enter the King¡¯s range. Phillip Kain was ready to face Percy head-on. He utilized the gales around him to crash the ice on the ground and released whips of comprised gales to shatter the [Frostbite] icicles, yet he missed one thing. Percy was not yet out of Augmentations to use. His body screamed at him, cursing Percy for using too many Augmentations simultaneously, but ambition got the better of him. He unleashed [Berserk] and [Silent Reaper] the moment he arrived before the King. Percy¡¯s presence and strength skyrocketed simultaneously, but in the same instance, something eerie occurred. All the sounds he made were swallowed. The surroundings were eerily silent all of a sudden. Even the spectator¡¯s breathing and gasps were louder than Percy''s as the Syreablade flashed through the air. The King¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. The sudden lack of sound took him by surprise and ripped him out of his fully focused state. He didn¡¯t react fast enough. It was only a quarter of a second, but that much was enough to die on the battlefield. An instant was all it took to take someone¡¯s life on the battlefield. The King raised his ivory sword and shrouded himself in a pitch-black armor that enveloped his entire body, but the King¡¯s body had never been Percy¡¯s target. After all, Percy had heard enough of the King¡¯s Ego, the Armor of the Everlasting Night, to know that he couldn¡¯t go past the Ego, Armor, and the King¡¯s Ascended flesh to emerge victorious in the royal duel. Thus, Percy went for the ivory blade. Dragon Fang vibrated in utter excitement as it crashed heavily into the ivory blade¡­and cut cleanly through it. B3 Chapter 10 - Final Preparations The only sound resounding in the sparring area was the chipped blade flying through the air. It landed in the sand at the edge of the arena, swallowing the last sounds. Nobody uttered a single word for a good minute until a member of the Kingsguard couldn¡¯t contain himself anymore. ¡°Oh shit,¡± He blurted aloud right before the sound of metal colliding rang out alongside a ¡°Shut up!¡± The Kingsguard¡¯s words broke the ice, and the remaining members started gossiping with each other. At last, the Old King stepped forward to pat his son¡¯s shoulders, ¡°You¡¯ve gotten rusty.¡± Phillip winced and dismissed the Armor of the Everlasting Night, his eyes glued to the ivory blade. The Old King inspected the ivory blade and chuckled inwardly. The King¡¯s weapon had been a powerful Artifact, yet it chipped just like that. The Old King¡¯s eyes drifted to Dragon Fang and glimmered in excitement. Then he looked at Percy with even more excitement. ¡°I didn¡¯t think you would get used to the changes of your body this quickly,¡± He praised his grandson, ¡°If you keep growing like that and equip a bunch of Artifacts then¡­¡± The Old King stopped mid-sentence, but that was fine. His intention was clear. ¡°To think I instinctively used my Ego. I thought it was unfair to use my Ego when I¡¯m already an Ascended,¡± Phillip Kain mumbled, only for a chuckle to escape his lips, ¡°I¡¯m such a fool.¡± The Weaponmasters struggled to contain the Kingsguards¡¯ excitement and gossip since they were also shocked to the core. Most had witnessed their King¡¯s power in the past. They were already in the Kingsguard or had already advanced to the ranks of a Weaponmaster during the war with the Beast King a decade ago. The King¡¯s prowess was something they remembered clearly, yet they couldn¡¯t help but feel that the crown prince was more oppressive. He might not be as strong as the King just yet, but the crown prince¡¯s presence was more burdensome. It was only a matter of time before the crown prince would surpass his father. Maybe he would reach the same realms as his grandfather! ¡°You are strong¡­¡± The Queen whispered as if she didn¡¯t want anyone to hear her, but Percy did. You mean stronger than you expected? Percy thought, a faint smile blossoming. ¡°I don¡¯t know if this will help you calm down, but I think I¡¯m ready to participate in the envoy. I can do it,¡± Percy declared confidently. " Please trust me with this!¡± A moment later, he revealed his individual interface to his family. ¡ºPercy Kain¡» [Ego ¨C Coin of Prosperity] [Tier] ¨C [Master-4] ¡ª [Dragon Fang (Syreablade)] ¨C [Growth?????], [Dragonblood ?], [Gnoll Warrior (Elite ¨C?????) ¨C [Blade Mastery?????],[A Hunter¡¯s Smell?], [Basic Strength Boost?????], [Berserk ????]] [Blueflame Hawk (Elite ¨C ?????) ¨C [Hawk Eyes ???] ¨C [Frostbite ????], [Basic Agility Boost ?????], [Silent Reaper ?] ] [Capture Card ¨C No Inhabitant ¨C Mythical] ¡ºCoin of Prosperity¡» Prosperity: 28,101,521 ?Consume ¡°What in the Seven Hells is that?!¡± Phillip cursed, ¡°Is that a Monster Card with four Augmentations? No. There are two of these¡­I¡¯m not seeing things, or am I?¡± The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. He looked at the Old King and the Queen, but both were too stunned to say a thing. ¡°The Gnoll Card had three Augmentations, but I could add a fourth one when it reached the Elite potential and evolved into the Gnoll Warrior. Maybe I can add a fifth Augmentation once the Gnoll Warrior evolves again. But then again, I¡¯m not sure if it will evolve the moment it reaches the Evolved Potential,¡± Percy mumbled. He tilted his head and added, ¡°I should have tested that before using most of my fortune to unlock [Dragonblood]. Then again, [Dragonblood] is quite powerful. I¡¯m not sure if it was worth the equivalent of 21 Imperial Coins, but I would guess so.¡± The more the royal family listened to Percy talking, the more color drained from their faces. ¡°21 Imperial Coins?¡± ¡°Your Ego can evolve your Monster Cards? Is there a limit to your Ego¡¯s potential in the first place?¡± ¡°Seven Hells!¡± The Old King glanced at the Weaponmaster and Kingsguard and sighed in relief when he was certain they didn¡¯t hear a thing. Rumors about the fortune Percy was spending on his enhancements would spread like wildfire. ¡°Continue your training,¡± He commanded. The Weaponmasters hinted at a polite bow again and returned to their units. ¡°I think we have a lot to talk about,¡± The Old King commented as he turned back to his family. He flashed his white teeth and winked toward Percy, ¡°We have to prepare our crown prince¡¯s first mission as the crown¡¯s ambassador!¡± *** To say that they had a lot to do was an understatement. Percy had no idea what he was supposed to do in the Beastlands in the first place. He might have volunteered to negotiate with the Beast King and to give his utmost to convince the Beast King that the crown and the kingdom¡¯s pillars of support had nothing to do with the kidnapping, but that was not all. Percy¡¯s mission was to gain the Beastmen¡¯s trust and respect. Ensuring that they would believe the Kainesh Kingdom¡¯s innocence was only one step in his mission. Once the first step had been achieved, Percy was to strengthen their connection, possibly trade with the Beast King and his people and to convince them that they had to unite their forces against their common enemy; The dangers emerging from the Seven Hells. This was going to be incredibly difficult, so Percy was forced to learn more about diplomacy. He also had to study and understand the Beastlands¡¯ traditions thoroughly. That was only the beginning of the things Percy had to do, yet it was already incredibly challenging. Percy wasn¡¯t the best student after all. He was trying hard, but it was unfortunate that he had a etiquette problem. Percy struggled desperately until he learned that the strongest Beastmen had more monster-like traits, which affected their manners. Thus, he sought the most simplistic solution; He had to be strong enough so that nobody would mind his lack of manners! Unfortunately, diplomacy lessons, study sessions to learn and understand the Beastlands¡¯ traditions, and various other lessons his parents and grandfather tried to squeeze into his smoking brain weren¡¯t everything he had to do. Percy couldn¡¯t neglect the Dragon Nest, Dragon Lair, and the Dragon Knight Order just like that. He couldn¡¯t bring the Dragon Knight trainees with him. They weren¡¯t up for a task like that just yet and were better off staying in the capital to train like there was no tomorrow. Thus, Percy invested heavily in the Dragon Knight Order by preparing Wyvernblood Horse Cards for them to bind and mount once they reached the threshold of becoming Knights. It was their graduation gift and precisely what the Dragon Knights needed to be ready for battle. Wyvernblood Horses were fast mounts, highly durable, and possessed near-unlimited stamina. Percy could Ego-enhance them with powerful Augmentations as well. They were perfect for the Dragon Knights. ¡°Put enough money, Artifacts, and Monster Cards aside, Your Excellency,¡± One of the Weaponmasters responsible for the Dragon Knight trainee¡¯s development pointed out, ¡°We received some requests from the Kingsguard and a few Imperial prospects. They wish to join the Dragon Knight Order. Their transfer request stirred some rumors which is also why some less known commonbirth Egos and young Gifted applied to join the Dragon Knight trainees as well. There are some diamonds in the rough, which the Kingsguard will take if you reject them.¡± Percy chuckled, ¡°I won¡¯t reject anyone who¡¯s hard-working and loyal. Tell me how much you need, and I will prepare everything!¡± He didn¡¯t have infinite coins to splurge, but his fortune had yet to be used up. That was also why he did exactly that. He either consumed or invested most of his Imperial Coins and gold coins until less than 100 gold coins remained in Percy¡¯s pockets. There was no need to be saving so much gold if he could invest it instead. Percy wouldn¡¯t need much money in the Beastlands either way. At least, he didn¡¯t think so. The Dragon Knight Order needed lots of funding, but so did the Dragon Nest and Dragon Lair. Percy had to invest enough into both organizations to keep them running during his absence. That was also how he ended up not investing anymore Prosperity into himself. Instead, he Ego-enhanced over a thousand Armaments, dozens of Monster Cards, and countless accessories. He went as far as Ego-enhancing more than ten thousand potion vials to stock up for the months he wouldn¡¯t be in the capital. However, even then, Percy didn¡¯t feel like he had adequately prepared. Everyone else told him that he would be fine, yet Percy couldn¡¯t help but feel restless. ¡°This is driving me crazy,¡± He mumbled the day before his departure, ¡°I feel like I¡¯m forgetting something!¡± B3 Chapter 11 - Departure The day of departure arrived earlier than expected, but Percy was excited. He tiptoed around, ready to leave the capital for the first time in months and to travel through the Wilderness again. Something in the back of his mind told him that he was forgetting something and that he re-check everything once more, even though Percy had done that thrice already. ¡°We checked everything multiple times. You didn¡¯t forget anything,¡± The Queen reminded her son with a chuckle, ¡°Even if you forgot something, we can take care of it. Stop worrying and focus on your task ahead. Don¡¯t get injured and stay with the others if you don¡¯t want to get lost in the Beastlands.¡± His grandmother, Emilia Dark, was also present. Percy hadn¡¯t seen her for a while ¨C not after asking her to teach the alchemist apprentices he¡¯d hired ¨C but she was still as lively as always. She studied her daughter with a light in her eyes and snickered. ¡°I don¡¯t think you should tell anyone to stop worrying if you¡¯re asking like this, honey,¡± She said, earning a deadly glare from the Queen. ¡°I will be fine,¡± Percy reassured her while finishing the final adjustments to his new piece of armor. After [Dragonblood] altered Percy¡¯s physique, he couldn¡¯t wear the old leather armor any longer. The King and the Queen took advantage of that and requested new armor from the Grandmaster Blacksmith. The dwarf was already deep in work but liked the crown prince and what he was doing with the Dragon Nest. Thus, he put his other work aside and finished Percy¡¯s new armor. The armor was unenchanted, but it was also made from rare materials. It was the same azure-silverish metal used in the King¡¯s armor. The Grandmaster Blacksmith worked on the armor for days to remove the purity within the metals and to create the crown¡¯s alloy. Once the alloy was completed, the Grandmaster Blacksmith forged countless small metal plates and riveted them to a leather backing in several layers. The leather backing kept his body warm and protected his body from the worst impact of heavy attacks, whereas the small metal plates looked like they were the jagged scales of a dragon youngling. The Grandmaster Blacksmith didn¡¯t fail to smoothen the metal plates¡¯ surface. On the contrary, he put in the utmost effort to transform the metal into perfectly sized replicas before riveting them to the leather in layers. ¡°My small friend told me to apologize to you. He was informed too late to complete the pants and boots. If he¡¯d known about your departure a week or two earlier, he would have completed it,¡± The Old King said while approaching Percy to tighten the last two leather straps on the back. ¡°That¡¯s totally fine. I purchased good boots and found a simple metal armor that fit the chestplate¡¯s style. The material is not as rare or expensive, but I made sure to purchase boots and leggings of Perfect Quality. They will be easier to enchant than the dragonscale armor,¡± Percy waved dismissively. From its looks, it will cost millions to engrave enchantments on Dragonscale. That¡¯s probably the only downside of owning equipment made from the highest material, created by the best of the best. It is a good combination if you have enough coins or Prosperity since the enchantments are amazing, but it will be a nightmare for me. I am dirt poor! Percy didn¡¯t think he would revert to this state, but he didn¡¯t have many coins left. Of course, the crown prince was far from poor at this point, but it surely felt like that after spending a mountain of gold coins. He was left with less than 100 gold coins out of a massive pile containing tens of thousands of gold coins. ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± The Old King mumbled and Percy nodded, ¡°You are ready.¡± ¡°I am ready¡­¡± He repeated, taking a deep breath. ¡°It¡¯s time to leave.¡± *** To think Sophia would cling to me like that. A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. Percy snickered inwardly. His sister didn¡¯t take his departure well. She rushed out of the palace with Sabrina¡¯s help ¨C they became best friends and stirred enough trouble to be known as the palace¡¯s troublemaker duo ¨C and found Percy to keep him from going away. The King and the Queen searched for Sophia and nearly put the capital in lockdown when they couldn¡¯t find their daughter. It was a good thing they arrived in time. If they¡¯d arrived a minute later, she would have forced me to return to the palace or allow her to join the envoy. He was glad he didn¡¯t have to make a decision like that. His parents found Sophia, removed her from Percy, and forced her to apologize and say her goodbyes again. The princess cried for a long time, which hurt a lot more to see than Percy was willing to acknowledge, but he had to leave. He mounted the Silverback horse, which his grandfather had prepared for him, and joined the envoy outside the capital. Fortunately, our departure has no big function. Meeting in secret is the best¡­for me, at least. Percy was certain the other members of the envoy didn¡¯t think like that ¨C some of them loved to be the center of attention ¨C but Percy was the opposite. He was glad they left the capital with the sun''s rise, avoiding crowds and attention. Some residents had to rise early to start work, yet Percy ensured to use [Silent Reaper], shrouding the noises he and the horse made in silence. He was already past most residents before they took note of his presence. Leaving the capital was simple. He didn¡¯t even have to show his Royal Stigmata to the guards to verify who he was. The guards at the northern gates were sleepy from staying up all night, but all exhaustion was blown apart, torn into bits and pieces when their attention fell upon the silent rider approaching him. The azure-silverish armor attracted them at first, but their focus pulled to the young rider¡¯s eyes only a moment later. The guards stiffened for a second before bowing deeply. One of them opened his trembling lips, but no word came out of his mouth. Instead of saying something, the guards opened the gate and bowed once more when Percy rode past them. ¡°Thank you for your hard work,¡± Percy ushered to the guards, who smiled beamingly as they closed the gate behind Percy. Percy¡¯s horse trotted slowly across the cobbled street. The mount didn¡¯t seem to have any worries in life. It was incredibly calm even as they approached the caravan of expensive carriages. You cannot sense their tension? Even the horses are uncomfortable. Percy was impressed. But not by everyone bringing their runic carriage pulled four or more horses but by the tension hanging in the air. Percy¡¯s eyes landed on a small group of a dozen nobles and a handful of Imperials, and he sighed deeply. Even the Imperials are angsty. Is it because this is one of their first missions outside the kingdom? He shrugged and studied the small group a little bit more intently. Three sons of nobles who are known for their trading business rather than their strength, twins from a house of prodigious archers, heirs to declining families who¡¯re trying to earn a favor from the crown, four Imperials at the Master Tier to protect those who cannot protect themselves¡­and young enough to gain respect as the combatants in the Beastlands. And Melissa with a friend I haven¡¯t seen before. Melissa hadn¡¯t changed much in the last few months. He didn¡¯t see her often but was always glad when he saw her. Melissa Reeze was probably the only person who didn¡¯t change after the shocking truth of his birth and background were revealed. Percy understood the importance of a hierarchy when it came to the ruling class, but that didn¡¯t mean he had to like it. ¡°Good morning,¡± Percy greeted everyone with a kind smile once he was close enough to be heard. One of the merchant heirs was about to say something, probably to ask him who he was, but he didn¡¯t say anything when he saw his azure eyes. There was only one young man with azure eyes in the envoy. The men and women jumped up, bowed deeply, and shouted ¡°Your Highness!¡± and ¡°Your Excellency!¡± in unison. Even Melissa and her friend ushered in a similar greeting, but Percy couldn¡¯t pay much attention to them as goosebumps covered his body. The noble heirs, excluding Melissa and her friends, looked up after the greeting¡­their eyes filled with a particular ¨C a very familiar ¨C gaze. It was greed. I can already tell that this is going to be a very annoying trip. B3 Chapter 12 - Melissas Friend He couldn¡¯t have been more right. The trip was as annoying, if not worse than he¡¯d expected. ¡°What is your esteemed opinion of the arranged marriage between the Melika house and Luwian house, Your Excellency?¡± The son of Viscount Meroan asked, forcing Percy to answer if the other nobles weren¡¯t busy bombarding him as well. ¡°The Eberwood trading business is declining due to the commoner¡¯s fear of the Demons. They are too afraid to leave the safety of their towns and villages¡¯ safety to lumber trees. How do you think we should handle this situation, your Excellency?¡± ¡°The Imperial training will soon end. Can you imagine our livelihood will improve again once we can be certain the Demons in the kingdom won¡¯t be an issue anymore, Your Highness?¡± ¡°Are you planning to negotiate with the Beast King? Will you threaten him with an all-out war, or are you trying to go down the path of peace, Your Excellency?¡± The nobles had been bothering Percy with questions about his political standing, his understanding of the kingdom¡¯s trading businesses, the crown¡¯s actions against the increased Demon sightings, and much more. His only advantage was the sudden decrease in questions once they departed. The bombardment stopped as they left for the Beastlands since the nobles had to return to their carriages. Only the Imperials were riding on mounts. Everyone else, except Percy, did not waste a single second thinking about riding to the Beastlands by horse. Their journey was too long to consider such an ordeal. They would have to travel on the horse most of the day for weeks. Nobody was willing to go through such torture if they had other options. That excluded Percy because he had the means to procure a runic carriage but didn¡¯t bother acquiring one. It was not that he considered it useless, quite the contrary, Percy would have purchased a runic carriage and used it if possible too. However, he learned enough about Beastmen and the Beastlands to know that there weren¡¯t any cobbled streets. They would have to switch to riding horses in the Beastlands either way. Thus, to prepare his body for the ordeal and adapt to the condition early on, Percy decided against purchasing a runic carriage. I sure hope they don¡¯t complain too much once they¡¯re forced to leave the carriages. It might be fine for a while, but they will lose the Beastmen¡¯s respect long before meeting the Beast King if they act like softies¡­which they will. Percy¡¯s attention shifted to the Imperials. They were his only hope to gain the Beast King¡¯s respect. Maybe also Melissa and her friend. The duo used the same carriage and didn¡¯t leave the carriage for any reason. Percy was unsure what they had been up to, only to perceive that they did exactly what he would have done if he didn¡¯t have to adapt his body to traveling by horse for long hours every day; They trained with their Egos and improved their mana circulation. He couldn¡¯t train his Ego in a carriage, in the first place, while improving his mana circulation while riding on the horse was good training to enhance his multi-tasking skills. That being said, Percy was glad to be riding on the horse rather than using a carriage. Nobody, except for the Imperials, bothered him, and even the Imperials didn¡¯t really bother him either. They were curious about his training, asked him how long it took to get such a great body, and chatted a little bit about unimportant topics once they noticed that the crown prince was different from the snobby nobles. *** The first few days of their journey passed without any issues. They progressed faster than expected and would be halfway to the Beastlands by the end of the day. Percy got to know the Imperials and learned a lot about the snotty nobles. He unraveled everyone¡¯s reasons for joining the envoy to the Beastlands and made an impression on everyone, given the lackluster intel at his disposal. ¡°Are you lonely, Your Excellency?¡± Melissa, riding on a young Stallion, approached Percy from the side. She smiled teasingly at him when he turned to look at her.If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. ¡°To think there would be the day I see the esteemed Lady Reeze riding on a horse rather than enjoying the luxury of her runic carriage. The Seven Hells are probably about to freeze,¡± Percy responded, flashing his white teeth. Melissa cursed quietly but told the Stallion to keep trotting next to Percy. At the same time, she turned around to look at her friend, who was also riding on a horse rather than staying in the carriage. She was clearly inept and struggled to keep up with Melissa and Percy, but the young woman was trying her best. She pressed her cherry lips together, forming a paper-thin line, and furrowed her brows in her endeavor. Long, silky gold cascaded her back, single strands sticking to her sweat-covered forehead. She wore a long white tunic engraved with multiple runic enchantments, but Percy knew none of them. The young woman was around Percy¡¯s age, but she seemed both older and younger at the same time. She looked like a younger sister in her endeavor to keep up with Melissa and Percy, yet something about her presence confused him. It was almost like her presence was of an older, dependable woman¡­a woman he wanted to rely on. ¡°Don¡¯t stare at her like that. She can still sense it when others stare at her even though she cannot see it,¡± Melissa hissed, taking Percy by surprise. It was only now that he looked at her eyes. The faintly glowing, milky-white eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t be mistaken, Your Excellency. I am not blind!¡± The young woman said, her sonorous voice resounding in his ears like a chorus. Percy activated [Hawk Eyes] for a moment and understood right away. ¡°You use mana to see,¡± He noted. ¡°That¡¯s correct, Your Excellency,¡± The woman responded between two heavy breaths. She groaned softly when the horse accelerated slightly to keep up with Percy but kept smiling. ¡°Spreading your mana into the surroundings in incredibly thin layers,¡± He murmured, ¡°That¡¯s not a bad idea. You can probably see more than some of these idiots.¡± Percy conjured an arrow from mana and pointed at the runic carriages. The young nobles have already started complaining about the time spent on traveling through the Kainesh Kingdom. They weren¡¯t even training or doing anything but complaining about boredom. Percy proposed to them to train a little or loan them one of the many books his grandfather had given him before their departure. The books were related to the history of the Beastlands and very interesting. Percy read it once since they departed and would read it again once his multi-tasking skills improved. He was not yet up to riding a horse while simultaneously reading a book and training his mana control. Melissa¡¯s friend chuckled. She flushed at Percy¡¯s praise and hinted at a polite bow. Then again, she might have been struggling to stay on the horse and didn¡¯t plan to bow in the first place. ¡°Don¡¯t even think about flirting with Fiona. I understand where you¡¯re coming from because she is beautiful, BUT Fiona belongs to the Angy house and won¡¯t fall for your dirty schemes!¡± Percy had no idea what he was supposed to do with this intel. Why was it important that she came from the Angy house? The Angy house is also known as the House of Healers, isn¡¯t it? There was something about that house, but¡­what was it again? Something about fated mates, soulmates, or something along those lines¡­right? Wait, in the first place¡­ He frowned deeply, ¡°I wasn¡¯t flirting with anyone!¡± Melissa gave him the ¡®Whatever you say¡¯-look, clearly not believing anything he said. She cleared her throat, dismissing her anger, and gestured to Fiona. ¡°She sensed something ahead.¡± Percy squinted his eyes and looked at Fiona. ¡°I have a Monster Card with the [Danger Sense] Augmentation,¡± Fiona explained, ¡°I might not know what exactly is going on, but I can sense danger ahead.¡± ¡°Can you distinguish the danger in some way? Like the danger level or the type of danger?¡± Fiona nibbled on her lower lip while giving her utmost to stay on the horse¡¯s back, ¡°Once we¡¯re getting closer, I should be able to tell you something, but¨C...¡± She suddenly stopped speaking, and the hair all over her body stood up to its end. Percy might not know Fiona for long, but he was familiar with this kind of reaction. He glanced at Melissa, who sighed deeply. ¡°Demons?¡± She asked, but Fiona could only shrug. ¡°All¡­All I can tell is that something is coming for us¡­something strong¡­¡± B3 Chapter 13 - Demon Horde The following minute was filled with frantic movements. Melissa told everyone what was going on while Percy ordered the coachmen to pull the carriages back and retreat. Melissa brought the combatants among the noble heirs to fight by their sides, but they didn¡¯t seem optimistic. The fear reflected in their eyes was anything but helpful. As long as they don¡¯t stand in my way mid-battle, I will be fine. But they¡­I hope nobody will die. What a hassle! Percy cursed in his mind. He didn¡¯t want to force anyone into battle, but the noble heirs had been trained as the kingdom¡¯s pillars of support. They were supposed to be good at fighting. A few more curses escaped his lips, which earned a confused reaction from Fiona, but Percy paid no attention to it. He summoned the Blueflame Hawk and willed it to fly high into the air with [Hawk Eyes] activated. There is nothi¨C...Nevermind. Shit!! The Blueflame Hawk scanned the surrounding area quickly and found what must have triggered Fiona¡¯s [Danger Sense] Augmentation. On their right was a small town. It was larger than Raewood, but not by much. Percy wouldn¡¯t be surprised if they did not have more than three Gold Rank Adventurers. That, as great as it may seem at first glance, was definitely not enough to deal with the black and purple masses coming their way. The town is still a half-an-hour ride away. Maybe ten minutes if we urge the horses to rush over, but that shouldn¡¯t be necessary. ¡®They¡¯ are coming our way. The black and purple masses charged in a straight line to the envoy. They would pass by the town and should ignore it. ¡°A large Infernal Lair. It¡¯s collapsing, though,¡± Percy commented when he focused on the images the Blueflame Hawk showed him. It was still difficult to communicate with his monsters, but their bond was strong. It was a strong bridge that endured the toll of conveying everything they wanted through their feelings and images. Percy and his monsters had yet to attain a high mastery in advanced communications, but it was enough for the time being. ¡°But¡­there are at least three Greater Demons leading groups of two, probably three dozen Elite Demons and a horde with more than 200 Lesser Demons,¡± Percy informed everyone in a neutral voice. He craned his neck while his mind rattled to come up with a wave to deal with the Demons easily, but they didn¡¯t have much time. ¡°H-How can that be? We¡­We have yet to leave the kingdom¡¯s middle region. How can there be three Greater Demons and a horde of Lesser Demons?!¡± One of the nobles stuttered, tears trickling down his cheek. Percy was about to respond and reprimand the noble for his behavior when more images sent by the Blueflame Hawk reached him. ¡°The Demons are not coming after us anymore. They changed their course and area, now heading for the town,¡± He cursed, ¡°Fuck!¡± The demons didn¡¯t move fast and wouldn¡¯t reach the town before Percy and his people reached them if they were to move out at once at full speed. But was that feasible? No, that kind of question didn¡¯t matter. They had to make it! The same teary-eyed noble as before muttered, ¡°Let¡¯s avoid them and travel pas¨C...¡± Melissa charged at the noble and punched him in the face before he could finish the sentence. Blood spurted through the air, and the noble heir fell to the ground. His tears mixed with the blood streaming down his face, but nobody paid any attention to him other than Fiona, who used her Ego to coat the heir in a warm, soothing hue until his bleeding stopped. ¡°Good job,¡± Percy muttered to Melissa while glaring at the teary-eyed noble, ¡°I will report your cowardice to the crown. Your family won¡¯t be happy about your actions. You, just like your family, are the kingdom¡¯s pillars of support. However, you seem to have forgotten that the kingdom is nothing without its citizens. No, the citizens are the kingdom!¡± This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. He had much more to say and felt like punching the teary-eyed noble when the heir stared at him in defiance as if he was about to say something stupid, but he let it be. ¡°We need to move out. Now!¡± Percy ordered, infusing a trace of his purified mana into his mount before closing his eyes, Show me how fast you can go. I need you to give your all! Maybe the horse couldn¡¯t hear him and might not understand his words even if it wanted to, but Percy was certain the horse comprehended his intent. He held the reins tightly in his hands and ushered his majestic horse to storm into the town. At this moment, he didn¡¯t even care if the others would follow him. All Percy wished for was to protect the town. We should make it in time. The Demons have yet to accelerate and don¡¯t seem particularly worried about¡­anything. In the first place, I have never seen a worried Demon. No. That¡¯s not the truth. I saw Demons in fear once. In the Wintermoon Estate. But that was something else. There are Greater Demons here. Too many to deal with at once. The Imperials will have difficulties stalling time, and I¡­don¡¯t know if I can defeat them. Percy shook his head, trying to dispel the worries plaguing his mind, but it wasn¡¯t that easy. He was restless and urged his majestic mount to go faster even though it galloped faster than any mount Percy had seen. The horse was like a whirlwind and raced across the dry soil at a shocking pace. It reached the town walls with more than five minutes left before the small hord would reach them, but Percy couldn¡¯t calm down. The horse wasn¡¯t dead-tired yet, but it needed a few minutes of rest before charging ahead. ¡°Demons are on their way to the town!¡± Percy roared at the top of his lungs while infusing mana into his vocal cords to enhance his voice. The people who manned the wooden gates stared at Percy in shock. They¡¯d sensed that something was wrong when Percy approached them in a flash, but the words escaping the unknown rider¡¯s lips solidified their worries. Percy conjured a [Frostbite] icicle while standing up from the horse¡¯s back. He found the bell tower in the center of the town thanks to [Hawk Eyes] and released the icicle with a burst of mana. The icicle drew a beautiful arc across the sky and hit the bell at the top of the central tower, which started chiming loudly as it was set into motion. ¡°It looks like becoming the crown prince didn¡¯t stop you from training diligently,¡± Melissa mentioned as she arrived beside him with Fiona.¡± Percy¡¯s eyebrows arched. ¡°That means ¡®nice hit.¡¯. Take it as a compliment,¡± She added a little bit more seriously, ¡°I¡¯m glad you kept working hard. We need as much power as possible to survive this.¡± Percy nodded in acknowledgment and looked back to see the Imperials and heirs following behind. The fear in their eyes was evident, but it wasn¡¯t like Percy was eerily calm and unaffected by the horde of Demons coming their way. He was also scared. He didn¡¯t want to die either. Percy closed his eyes while retrieving Dragon Fang from the obsidian Syreablade Mark. He unsheathed the blade and held it in both hands to feel the full intensity of [Dragonblood]. Dragon Fang pulsated wildly, reflecting how he was truly feeling on the insides. Even though his weapon exposed his true feelings to everyone smart enough to realize that the pulsating crimson streaks reflected his pulse at this moment, Nobody seemed to notice that though, other than Fiona, who was looking in his direction. She couldn¡¯t see anything, but her mana exposed everything happening around her in full detail. Don¡¯t laugh at me. Being afraid is normal. I am not some fearless idiot who overcomes the fear of death. Learning how to live with fear, on the other hand, is something I can handle. He wanted to tell Fiona but remained silent instead. I just¡­don¡¯t want to live with regret. Listening to the crimson streaks¡¯ pulsating ¨C the perfect replication of his heartbeat ¨C was oddly calming. A thin smile blossomed on his lips, and he circulated mana through his body to loosen his sore muscles and tired bones. Percy was still tense, but it wasn¡¯t too bad. It would not restrict him mid-combat. That was good. At last, he summoned the Gnoll Warrior and handed him his old Silvron Sword Artifact with the [Sharpness] Augmentation] while ordering the Blueflame Hawk to cautiously take out a few Lesser Demons using [Frostbite] icicles. ¡°Everyone prepare for battle!¡± Percy roared, ¡°We¡¯re going to survive this. No one is allowed to die, or I will kill you!¡± Melissa rolled her eyes at that, but the Imperials followed Percy¡¯s guide and roared at the top of their lungs. They were ready to fight and die alongside the crown prince! B3 Chapter 14 - Berserk The others followed the crown prince¡¯s example and summoned their Monsters. They weren¡¯t as strong as Percy¡¯s Gnoll Warrior and the Blueflame Hawk ¨C nobody had a Monster Card with four Augmentation ¨C, but their Monster Cards were still several times better than the nom. Only Fiona and Melissa had Monster Cards at the Evolved Potential. Fiona summoned a creature that looked like a lizard with elongated legs. It was almost three meters tall at shoulder length and covered in thick but small scales. The creature had three horns: one long, pointy horn above its parrot-like beak and two slightly shorter horns growing from the large bone frill that extended up to one meter. These horns protected the creature¡¯s head and the rest of its body like a massive shield. Is that a Triceratops? The Beastarium said they¡¯re on the verge of going extinct. Either Fiona¡¯s family is the reason they¡¯re going extinct, or there are more of them left, as noted in the Beastariums. Percy perceived two powers oozing from the Triceratops. Both were Augmentations which were activated instantly, creating circles of power. Percy was in the range of the circles and noticed quick changes to his body and mind. First, one of the circles of power calmed his mind and mended his wounds ¨C or it would have if there had been physical wounds ¨C whereas the other circle put a protection layer all over his body and armaments, enhancing Percy, the Gnoll Warrior, and the other allies. Is that the Aura of Healing and the Circle of Protection? Those are rare Augmentations¡­ Fiona¡¯s family has the means to concoct Elixirs, or they killed over a thousand Holy Triceratops to find a suitable Evolved Monster Card with these two particular Augmentations. Elixirs were hard to come by. After all, it was incredibly difficult to come up with a concoction that allowed you to increase your Monster Card¡¯s potential, let alone find something suitable to unlock your Monster Card¡¯s Augmentation. Monster Cards didn¡¯t have to be fed, and nobody would dare to feed them something randomly since summoned Monsters couldn¡¯t digest a lot. To create a working Elixir, one would have to sacrifice countless Monster Cards in experiments. That was why some Elixirs for Common Monster Cards were sold by esteemed merchants, but it was incredibly difficult to purchase Elite Elixirs. After all, every Monster Card required different resources to increase their potential and unlock specific Augmentations. ¡°I told you to stop staring at Fiona!¡± Melissa growled, which earned her a glare from Percy. ¡°What is it to you, in the first place? Stop bothering me and focus on the fight ahead,¡± He retorted, which was unexpected because Melissa looked at him in surprise. Fiona must have misunderstood the situation because she blushed while summoning her other Monster. It was a massive semi-translucent armor. A Guardian Spirit of the Knight-type. She has some impressive Monster Cards. This one should have been challenging to come by as well. If it has two rare Augmentations like the Holy Triceratops then her family holds her in high regard. Her Ego is either stronger than I thought or her parents are overprotective. Maybe both. Melissa sneered as she turned to the black and purple dots emerging far away. She summoned both her Monsters, one of them being the Glacier Lizard which Percy had faced head-on a while ago, and another lizard twice the size of the Glacier Lizard. It had long legs and an elongated neck which was shrouded in freezing mist. Pearls of frozen ice trickled to the ground every other second. ¡°What is tha¨C...¡± Melissa asked his question and jumped on the large lizard¡¯s back. She pressed her hands against the jutted scales and grew ice blocks on its back. Melissa formed the blocks of ice growing on the lizard¡¯s back and transformed them into a saddle for her to sit down. ¡°Not bad,¡± Percy murmured while turning his majestic mount, which was now scared to death at the sudden emergence of deadly monsters, and studied the others. The Imperials summoned pairs of Elite Monsters, which the nobles also did. Some of them, at least. Other nobles summoned only one or no monster at all. I understand where you guys are coming from. Fearing the death of your Monsters and the loss of Augmentations is bad, but it is not like we can afford to hold back.If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. He said in his mind while Melissa bellowed, ¡°Summon your Monsters as long as they¡¯re useful for combat! In the Seven Hells, tell me if you¡¯re tired of living. I can end you one at a time before the Demon horde arrives!¡± The nobles were still hesitant, but Melissa¡¯s ice-cold expression and the seriousness in her eyes were enough to force them to comply. ¡°I will face the Greater Demons head-on. You guys¡­take care of the remaining Demons first. We cannot afford to allow a single Lesser Demon to pass by our defenses!¡± Percy declared. He was, in no way, confident in killing three Greater Demons. In fact, Percy was certain they would beat the shit out of him the instance he made a mistake, but that was fine. Melissa, the Imperials, and the heirs could thrash the Elite Demons while some of the weaker summoned Monsters would deal with the horde of Lesser Demons while he stalled the three Greater Demons. At least, that what Percy¡¯s hope. ¡°That¡¯s suicidal¨C...¡± Melissa stopped mid-sentence when Percy turned around. ¡°That wasn¡¯t a request, Lady Reeze,¡± He reminded Melissa curtly. She cursed him silently, her cheeks flushed red in anger, but nodded at the end. Even if Melissa hated his order, it was still the order from a member of the crown. Melissa glared at him, but retrieved a familiar black wand from her spatial ring simultaneously. She threw it at him, and Percy caught it with a smile. It was the Staff of Leech, a familiar object of destruction. ¡°I don¡¯t think you can kill the Greater Demons with the Staff of Leech, but its power output should be high enough to damage them. It¡¯s better than nothing,¡± Melissa murmured before adding in a whisper, ¡°Don¡¯t get killed¡­¡± Percy smiled at Melissa, while Fiona added, ¡°I can focus Healing Star on you while mending the others at the same time. As long as everyone is within Healing Star¡¯s range, I can tend to their wounds mid-battle. But¡­I think you need the most focus. Healing Star is weaker the further the target. Melissa and the rest will be fine dealing with the Elite Demons and Lesser Demons, but the Greater Demons¡­¡± Fiona didn¡¯t want to go against his order and found a loophole to exploit. Sneaky little girl. I like that! He smiled at Fiona and nodded. ¡°I appreciate your help. Please make sure everyone survives.¡± Once that was said, it was time to come up with a proper tactic to deal with their enemies. They came up with a strategy, which some nobles rejected initially, only to be forced to accept that there was no better option. They accepted their fate and prepared for the inevitable encounter with the Demon horde. The Demons didn¡¯t waste any time. They¡¯d been traveling slowly across the lands but switched into full-blown charged once they found suitable prey. As their eyes fell upon the nobles, the Greater Demons roared and shot forward. ¡°There isn¡¯t a single Archyeas or winged Demon. However, there are Minos, Gnylds, and many Pleacis. Oh, there are also Lifefeeders and Cursias,¡± Percy notified everyone once the Blueflame Hawk was done analyzing, ¡°The three Greater Demons are all Thousand-eyed Hellhounds¡­¡± Thousand-eyed Hellhounds were rarely seen in the mortal realm. In fact, they were barely mentioned in the old scripts of the demon wars. Percy didn¡¯t know much about them, but that didn¡¯t mean he was helpless. They can spit hellfire, are clearly smaller than the average Demon, are very agile, and have no dead angle. Hellhounds are also more intelligent than the average Elite Demon, so the thousand-eyed version has to be even more intelligent. Percy couldn¡¯t be certain the Thousand-eyed Hellhounds would focus on him, but that could be found out in no time. He jumped from his majestic steed, knowing it would die if he were to charge with it into battle, and stepped forward. Percy¡¯s steps were slow at first. He grasped Dragon Fang tightly and felt his connection to the full potential of [Dragonblood] blossom. His blood was boiling, and his mana was running wild. As he kicked the ground, a rumbling swept through his being from the deepest parts of his existence. Percy propelled forward and transformed into a flash. He triggered [Berserk] and summoned his hatred for Demons, the Devils, and his heinous acts against him, and every single fragment of the memories he¡¯d retrained from the nightmares that had plagued him for weeks. Percy recalled everything and summoned the memories and emotions he¡¯d felt at those times to use them as a catalyst to trigger [Berserk]¡¯s true potential. Everything surfaced simultaneously as his power skyrocketed, and a dragon¡¯s roar escaped his lips. He transformed into a flash of raging fury and appeared before the closest Greater Demon in no time. Dragon Fang whizzed through the air, and the battle against the first of many Demon hordes began. B3 Chapter 15 - Decimating the Horde Melissa charged into the masses of enemies on Duke, the heirloom beast of the Reeze house. The Monster Card could only exhibit the power of an Evolved Monster, but it could become an Overlord. However, Melissa had the means to adjust Duke¡¯s power level according to the needs and strain she was willing to endure. She saw the Glacier Lizard as it released a frostbeam, which killed two Minos on the spot. The Lesser Demons tried charging ahead, but the frostbeam froze them instantly, shattering their bodies into countless fragments as they crashed. Duke followed suit, but it froze the surroundings instead of releasing a simple frostbeam. The ground around its feet froze at once, and it spread in all directions, freezing the ground and causing all living beings to come in contact with it. ¡°The [Domain of Eternal Ice]...Is that the Behemoth of¡­¡± One of the stronger nobles riding on a summoned Monster Mount gasped in shock and increased the distance to Melisa. He didn¡¯t dare to get too close, fearing he and his mount would be frozen to death by accident. Melissa snickered but remained silent as the Demons didn¡¯t seem to understand the human tongue or the threat of the [Domain of Eternal Ice] Augmentation. Melissa never used that Augmentation as it was too much for her to handle at her current Tier. Instead, she retrieved her Wand Artifact and applied her Ego through mana onto it. A dozen icicles manifested before her instantly, and she hurled them at the closest enemies. A Pleacis cut through two icicles as they came flying, but it missed the massive pointed ice block coming its way. Duke conjured the ice block when her master attacked, aiding Melissa in battle. The Pleacis tried evading the ice block, but it impaled the demonic creature before it could escape. Melissa was satisfied, however, there was no time to celebrate. The battle was not yet over. It had just begun. She charged forward, conjuring batches of dozens of icicles which were hurled at Lesser Demons, piercing their hearts and skulls with ease or to distract Elite Demons, allowing Duke and others to deal the finishing blow. Melissa could have attacked her enemies head-on with a sword, but Percy convinced her to focus on her Ego and Monster Cards to support everyone with long-range attacks. The Imperials, also riding on summoned Monster Mounts, charged ahead with lances. They impaled several Lesser Demons with the initial charge before changing their targets to the Elite Demons. One of the Imperials appeared before a Curias. Curias weren¡¯t powerful Elite Demons on their own. Their bodies weren¡¯t more advanced than the average Minos ¨C they looked similar if not for their pitch-black eyes and larger size ¨C but there was one particular issue about them. Curias were Demons afflicted with Curses. They could utilize the Curses to spread them like a plaque with every injury they¡¯ve inflicted. One cut, no matter how shallow, was all they needed to inflict one Curse. If you were unlucky, the Curias would be efficient at spreading its curse, capable of inflicting multiple layers of the same Curse upon you with a simple scratch. The Curses were why most people were afraid of them, however, the Imperial facing one of the Curias was confident. His body was shrouded in the Holy Triceratops¡¯ Circle of Protection, but that was not all. He raised his lance, which was further enhanced by the runic enchantments [Thrust] and [Drill], and shouted at the top of his lungs. ¡°Purge!!¡± A pristine light engulfed the Imperial suddenly, taking the surrounding Demons and a handful of noble heirs by surprise. The Demons screamed at the top of their lungs at the sight of the vibrant light emitting from the Imperial and backed off. Even the Curias tried to retreat even though this type of Demon was known to be notorious and highly aggressive. It retreated, only for the tip of the runic lance to penetrate its chest and heart in a swift motion. The Curias released an ear-deafening screech and scratched the Imperial, who was only smiling. The Curias¡¯ claws didn¡¯t penetrate the Circle of Protection, but it wouldn¡¯t have mattered even if the Curias had scratched him. The Imperial¡¯s Ego was not powerful, or highly useful in a fight against ordinary creatures or other humans, but it was one of the best weapons against demonic powers, curses, and witchcraft. That was what [Purge] was best at. Overpowering demonic powers and inflicting fear into creatures that were known for their fearlessness.The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. The Imperial killed the Curias and moved onward with his mount. His colleagues did the same, even though they made sure to avoid the Curias, leaving the Demonic, curse-inflicting Minotaur to their holy friend to deal with. They charged at the Lifefeeder, which was also an annoying enemy, capable of draining his victim¡¯s lifeforce once they were both bleeding and in the creature¡¯s range. The Imperials weren¡¯t injured and had agile monster mounts capable of evading injuries like the pest. They pursued the Lifefeeder while the other nobles focused on the remaining Pleacis. There weren¡¯t many Pleacis, to begin with, but the blade-armed Elite Demons were known for their great power, combat experience, and battle instincts. However, everything changed once they saw Percy¡¯s Gnoll Warrior, wielding a simple Sword Artifact, killing one of the Pleacis with a sequence of seven moves. The Gnoll Warrior was as strong as the average Evolved Monster thanks to the [Basic Strength Boost]. Still, it was only powerful enough to deal with a Pleacis after unleashing [Blade Mastery]¡¯s power with the Silvron Sword Artifact. Fighting more than one Pleacis simultaneously would have been too much to handle as even one of the Pleacis was already strong enough to inflict several injuries, but it could move on and keep fighting when Fiona¡¯s Ego, Healing Star, mended its wounds. It would be fine as long as the Gnoll Warrior didn¡¯t have to fight multiple Pleacis or other Elite Demons. Just like the others. All while the Gnoll Warrior wreaked havoc with the noble heirs and Imperials, the Blueflame Hawk helped Melissa and her summoned Monsters. It maintained [Silent Reaper], [Frostbite], and [Hawk Eyes] at all times to cross the battlefield silently and rapidly¡ªowed to the [Basic Agility Boost] Augmentation¡ªand killed more than a dozen Lesser Demons with icicles to their necks. Some [Frostbite] icicles shattered their skulls, but the way they died didn¡¯t matter to the Blueflame Hawk. It was only important that these creatures died. The faster, the better. The Demon horde would have been difficult to fight for most ordinary forces but not for several Imperials and noble heirs who¡¯d been nourished from a young age. They trained for more than a decade and were equipped with powerful Egos, Artifacts, and Monster Cards. There was no way to compare noble heirs with the average Gold Rank Adventurer, who was already strong enough to fight a dozen Lesser DEmons before retirement. The Lesser Demons were quickly taken care of, and it wouldn¡¯t take long to defeat the Elite Demons either, but the Greater Demons were the biggest issues. The nobles and Imperials glanced over to Percy countless times to ensure their crown prince was still alive. They occasionally checked on the Thousand-eyed Hellhounds, hoping there were still three Greater Demons and that their crown prince didn¡¯t let them pass to bulldoze the town. Percy was doing a great job. His initial attacks took the Greater Demons by surprise. They sensed his strength but didn¡¯t expect the outburst of power to elevate his prowess to such a high level. On top of that, the black blade cut through their hide as if it were made of paper. There was no resistance when the Syreablade cut them, forcing the Greater Demons to fight Percy more vigilantly. They were more agile and flexible, but it was almost like Percy could predict their next moves. His eyes shot left and right, devouring all information his eyes could take in to digest them instantly and devise suitable movement sequences to stop the Greater Demons while simultaneously avoiding severe injuries. But that was easier said than done at times. The Hellhounds weren¡¯t easy enemies. One tried to bypass him, forcing Percy to release a wall of ice, draining his mana considerably. However, mana potions and mana replenishment potions, replenishing his mana slowly over time, solved the issue of mana shortage. For now, at least. But if he consumed too many potions in a short period, Percy would suffer tremendously. Unfortunately, that was exactly what was about to happen. That was okay, though. So be it if it was necessary to suffer to best the Greater Demons. B3 Chapter 16 - Against Greater Demons Fiona was drenched in sweat, but not because of her mount. She¡¯d switched her mount to ride on the Holy Triceratops, which could protect her even better than the Guardian Spirit. The Guardian Spirit was the first line of defense and beheaded a Pleacis when the Elite Demon charged at Fiona. Its¡¯ defense was already powerful, but with [Circle of Protection], it was increasingly more difficult to injure the Guardian Spirit. Once the Pleacis bladed arm pierced [Circle of Protection] and the Knight-type Guardian¡¯s defense, it was decapitated with a single strike. The Guardian Spirit¡¯s injury was healed by [Aura of Healing], pushing the spirit back to full power at once. But Fiona noticed none of that. She didn¡¯t have to pay much attention to the other summoned Monsters, the nobles, or the Imperials. Percy attracted most of her attention. His mana was burning like a blazing inferno in the darkest night, according to her mana vision. She may not be able to see through her eyes after the incident with her Ego awakening occurred, but her perception through mana was better than ever. Melissa and the Imperials were strong, but Percy¡¯s mana burned fiercely in her mana vision. Nonetheless, he was not invincible. Fiona ¡®saw¡¯ the demonic creatures ¨C their power was evil and tainted ¨C as they charged at Percy. They tried overwhelming him but got overwhelmed instead. Their first exchange injured all Hellhounds and inflicted minor wounds to their bodies, but that was only the beginning. He succeeded in cutting them a few more times via Dragon Fang before the Thousand-eyed Hellhounds realized what was going on. However, Fiona comprehend the situation at once. She was a Healer, probably the most talented and perceptive Healer in the last few centuries. It was only obvious that she could perceive the severity of the injuries inflicted by Dragon Fang. It was too simple not to notice, yet the Hellhounds took a while to realize that their bleeding didn¡¯t stop. Their beastial regeneration should have healed the shallow cuts and minor wounds long ago, but nothing like that happened. Dragon Fang cut through more than hide and flesh. It caused deeper damage. They combined their forces once the Hellhounds realized how easily Percy could injure them and how much damage even the most shallow cut could inflict. They fought as lone hunters before and only switched to working together when it was obvious that their situation was dire. Two Greater Demons attacked him simultaneously, occupying Percy¡¯s full attention until the third pounced on him, biting into his shoulder. Percy should have blocked the Hellhound¡¯s pounce with a pillar of ice, but he was too occupied with the raging emotions that lent him the power needed to deal with the Greater Demons. The raging fury made it harder to control himself, let alone to keep several Augmentations active at all times. [Hawk Eyes], [Berserk], and [Blade Mastery] had to be actively utilized at all times to fight the Greater Demons, yet it wasn¡¯t like [Dragonblood] didn¡¯t require his attention. It was a passive Augmentation, but it influenced his mind as much as [Berserk]. He circulated enormous amounts of churning mana through his body to cool his boiling blood while infusing mana into Dragon Fang as he slashed one of the two Hellhounds, keeping him at bay. The Hellhound fought more aggressively and sustained a grave wound. The Greater Demon¡¯s gut was nearly cut open, and it didn¡¯t require much for its insides to spill out. In his rage, Percy focused on inflicting more damage by extending Dragon Fang¡¯s blade with an application of [Frostbite]. He applied the Augmentation to the Syreablade as it swept through the Hellhound¡¯s wound, worsening the injury drastically. The next thing Percy remembered was unbearable pain. The third Hellhound had pounced on him and dug its fangs deep into his shoulder. Percy wasn¡¯t dead right away, but he sure felt like his life was about to end in the next few seconds. The Hellhound tore on his shoulder, nearly pulling it apart, if it hadn¡¯t been for his new armor protecting him. [Circle of Protection] also protected him, but it wasn¡¯t enough. He still felt like the Hellhound would tear his shoulder apart in the next second if the Greater Demon hadn¡¯t pulled back.Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation. The Thousand-eyed Hellhound squelched in pain and released Percy as if it couldn¡¯t get away from his shoulder any faster. Only then did Percy notice smoke coming out of the Hellhound¡¯s mouth. But that wasn¡¯t the Hellhound¡¯s hellfire being used. The smoke came out of the Hellhound¡¯s throat and tongue, which had started melting. Out of nowhere, the Hellhound¡¯s mouth was melting. Even its razor-sharp and highly resilient canine fangs weren¡¯t spared. Blood gushed out of the deep wounds on Percy¡¯s shoulder, but he barely registered the pain. Fiona mended his wounds, yet Percy didn¡¯t notice this either. His attention lingered on the third Hellhound, which had pulled back to stare at him with a mix of confusion and¡­fear. The Abomination of my Ego hasn¡¯t made a move just yet. It shouldn¡¯t be afraid because of my Ego¡­right? Percy swung around when he registered something from the corner of his eye. The other unscathed Hellhound pounced at him, forcing Percy to raise his injured arm. Fiona¡¯s healing was fast but not instantaneous. The wound tore open again, and more blood spurted into the surrounding, tripping on both the gutted Hellhound, which was still writhing in pain, trying to get up to fight Percy and feast on his carcass and the other Hellhound. What happened next would be imprinted on Percy¡¯s mind. His blood tripped on the Hellhounds and¡­burned through their hide and flesh like acid. Fiona also noticed this phenomenon, but she wasn¡¯t as confused as Percy. Thanks to being forced to train her mana vision every day for years to survive on the battlefield as a blind Ego, Fiona¡¯s perception was countless times higher than the norm. She could easily sense how much mana everyone contained, how pure their mana was, and what additional properties their mana contained. Of course, it wasn¡¯t possible to instantly differentiate all properties and say what every property was capable of, but she could sense them nonetheless. However, that was not all Fiona was capable of. She was also a Healer, one of the strongest in her family''s history at that. It was only obvious, but Fiona could perceive how much lifeforce every living being contained. However, Healing Star was a little different. Fiona could also perceive how much lifeforce someone could hoard in their bodies, on top of how much was left. Yet, looking at Percy, Fiona couldn¡¯t really tell how much lifeforce his vessel could hold at a time. Yet, she could easily determine that, despite sustaining a grave injury by the Hellhound, Percy¡¯s pool of life was still filled to the brim. In fact, considering it as a ¡®pool of life¡¯ like her family had taught Fiona didn¡¯t seem suitable. It was more like Percy¡¯s pool of life was an ocean of abundant life. Percy was nothing like a Master Tier Ego should have been. Of course, Fiona was aware that the royalty was different from the norm, even compared to other nobles, but Percy¡­Percy was even more unique. She had once healed Sophia when the princess was even younger, and she recalled how shocked she had been when she saw the princess¡¯ pool of life. A young child shouldn¡¯t have been capable of possessing more lifeforce than the average Peak Mortal Tier Ego. But even compared to an anomaly like that, Percy could be considered an oddity. ¡°Your blood is the Demon¡¯s bane!¡± Fiona shouted at the top of her lungs. ¡°My blood?¡± Percy responded even though he was already grasping what was going on. But it didn¡¯t make any sense¡­or did it? He swung around, spreading more of his blood on the premises. The Hellhounds backed off, their expressions filled with fear. They stared at him as if he were a mythical creature from the legends. Almost like he was¡­ A Dragon. Percy¡¯s eyes glimmered dangerously as he put the pieces together. Everything started to make sense. He stepped to the wincing Thousand-eyed Hellhound, whom he had gutted, and stared it dead in the eye. A moment later, Dragon Fang slithered across its throat, ending the creature¡¯s life. One down, two to go. The fear rooted deep in his heart dispersed slowly. It was replaced by excitement. Come and get me if you can, Devil! B3 Chapter 17 - Greater Threat Percy sustained a lot more injuries even after the first Thousand-eyed Hellhound was dead. That wasn¡¯t within his expectations, but it was fine as Fiona maintained his state very well. Healing Star, boosted by [Aura of Healing] and what felt like another Augmentation, yet might as well have been a runic enchantment, were powerful enough to mend grave wounds within seconds. That was enough for Percy to block the Hellhounds and inflict more and more wounds. After killing one Greater Demon, Percy got more greedy. He traded wound with wound while relying on Fiona to heal him all the time. That worked out decently fine, and another Greater Demon died after its canine fangs dug deep into his shoulders. It was a desperate move by the Greater Demon, as it knew that Percy¡¯s blood was dangerous to the demonic creature, but it had to do something to defeat Percy, and the hellfire didn¡¯t work well enough. The Hellhounds¡¯ hellfire was powerful, there was no doubt about that, but it was also easy to predict via [Hawk Eyes], creating an opportunity to strike the other Hellhound. Percy studied the Hellhounds'' attack pattern in the minutes they¡¯d been fighting and learned enough to fight and overwhelm them. If it had been any other Greater Demon, Percy might have suffered a lot more, but the Hellhounds weren¡¯t much of a problem. They were fast Greater Demons, but their defenses and strategic combat weren¡¯t anything special. Greater Demons should have been a much stronger threat than the reports given in the ancient scripts of the demon wars. Maybe, they¡¯re not at full power? The Infernal Lair collapsed right after the trio emerged simultaneously. Perhaps they had to use some of their power or Essence to forcefully maintain the Infernal Lair to appear together. That could be the case, and it would explain how I managed to defeat them so ¡®easily¡¯...Not that it was actually easy. If his guess was correct, Percy would have to stay vigilant against Greater Demons. He was already fairly powerful, but that didn¡¯t mean anything against Greater Demons in their prime, or worse, Demon Lords and the Devil. Percy needed more power and continued to maintain vigilance against all enemies, no matter how weak they seemed at first glance. That being said, Percy killed the second Thousand-eyed Hellhound right after a massive ice block hit the side of its head. The Hellhound¡¯s skull cracked, and it was momentarily stunned, creating the opening Percy needed to decapitate the creature in a smooth swing. The other Thousand-eyed Hellhound pounced on him, but Percy was already prepared for that. He had expected such a move and had thus fueled the Staff of Leech until it was overflowing with mana and lifeforce. For a moment, he¡¯d also considered using his soul¡¯s highly potent energy, but his mana and blood had been purified and refined via [Dragonblood]. It was strong enough to transform the Staff of Leech¡¯s Energy Blast into an even stronger attack than it used to be. Percy spun around his axis right after beheading the Greater Demon to point the tip of the Staff of Leech at the other Greater Demon. Nothing happened for a quarter of a second, and Percy¡¯s nerves pulled on him and screamed, but there was nothing to worry about. A pristine white blast burst out of the Staff of Leech a moment before the last Thousand-eyed Hellhound could tear his face apart. The energy blast crashed heavily into the Hellhound¡¯s face and hurled it several meters through the air. The Hellhound wasn¡¯t dead yet, but half of its face was missing. Still, it couldn¡¯t get up from the ground after landing heavily on the dry soil as dozens of icicles crashed into it. The icicles targeted the Hellhound¡¯s open wounds with deadly precision, bypassing its thick skin to pierce through the Greater Demon¡¯s flesh and shatter, releasing its freezing properties inside the demonic creature. The Hellhound roared in pain but prevailed nonetheless. It was still alive, however, only for a few more seconds as the Imperials, their runic lances, switched to deadly runic spears ¨C piercing deep into the Greater Demon¡¯s flesh. The Hellhound writhed in pain, acting like doing so would allow the creature to escape the blades stuck in its flesh and squealed, yet it was to no avail. Melissa joined the Imperials by conjuring more batches of icicles while her mount, Duke, manifested large blocks of ice to crush the Hellhound¡¯s head multiple times until it stopped moving.Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation. The Hellhounds were dead, and so was the Demon horde. ¡°Is everyone fine?¡± Percy asked with a booming voice, and everyone he saw nodded. The Blueflame Hawk scouted the surroundings for escapees but couldn¡¯t find anything. The town was fine, though the townspeople were probably scared to death. That was fine. Showing fear meant that they were still alive. That was all that mattered. ¡°You¡¯re probably worse off than anyone else. Just look at you,¡± Melissa wanted to joke about it, but her attention lingered on his blood-drenched clothes. Even his armor was covered in blood, which wasn¡¯t supposed to be possible. Most master armors were polished with a special oil that repelled liquids and dirt. Percy¡¯s blood shouldn¡¯t have stained the armor, yet it did. ¡°I would love to say that this isn¡¯t my blood,¡± Percy chuckled, looking down at his body, ¡°But I can¡¯t.¡± He looked over to Fiona, who was approaching the group on the Holy Triceratops, and smiled, ¡°It¡¯s all thanks to your friend. If not for her, I wouldn¡¯t be alive.¡± Everyone looked over to Fiona and nodded in understanding. Fiona was one of the best Healers in the Kainesh Kingdom, and she was still young and in her prime growth phase. She was said to grow into the most capable Healer of the kingdom long before turning 20 years old. In fact, rumors said she would become the best of the best in the entire mortal realm as long as she didn¡¯t abandon the path of the strongest Healer. ¡°Percy would have made it without my help,¡± Fiona said in a matter-of-fact tone, but the nobles thought she was too humble. Percy might have been strong, much stronger than they had expected, but the blood-drenched clothes were a clear indicator of the danger he had been in. ¡°What are we doing now?¡± The Imperial with the Purge Ego asked, his attention pulling to Percy, ¡°Your Excellency?¡± Percy was about to shrug and let others decide cause he couldn¡¯t be bothered, but that wasn¡¯t something the head of the envoy could do. He was the crown prince, the man who was supposed to rule the Kainesh Kingdom in the future. ¡°First of all, I would like everyone to forfeit your ownership of the Demons¡¯ corpses. I have an Ego that allows me to consume demons and various objects to grow stronger,¡± Percy explained, which earned him some confused gazes. ¡°Do you think we will encounter more Demon hordes like this one, Your Excellency?¡± Fiona asked, to which Percy responded with a nod. There was not even hesitation in his response because he knew how ¡®lucky¡¯ he was and that the Devil could probably sense his location through Devil¡¯s Touch, the Mark it had engraved on his Essence ¨C and the back of his head ¨C when the Synther house was about to sacrifice him in exchange for power. ¡°I think so. In fact, I¡¯m certain the hordes will grow stronger. That is also what I will report back to the crown. This is not the first Demon horde found in the Kainesh Kingdom but the first horde with Greater Demons. They might have been weaker than the average Greater Demon. I don¡¯t know why, even if I have some theories, but the sighting of Greater Demons cannot be good. It is a bad sign. A warning if you want to put it like that.¡± The nobles looked at each other with a look Percy was all too familiar with. They don¡¯t believe the issues with the Demons are serious. Didn¡¯t they just fight a damn horde of Demons led by three Greater Demons?! Just because we defeated the horde doesn¡¯t mean the threat wasn¡¯t present. Are they tired of living? Percy was glad that he held the reins in the group. However, it was even better that Melissa seemed to agree with his decision. ¡°I have forfeited my right to the Demon carcasses. The corpses are better off transformed into power rather than leaving them unused in the spatial storages,¡± Melissa said, ¡°And if we encounter another Demon horde, we will have a much easier time dealing with them. Even if the horde is larger, we won¡¯t have many issues to deal with. After all, you will be stronger and capable of dealing with more Greater Demons if necessary. Otherwise, the others will have to fight the Greater Demons, and that¡­¡± Melissa left out the last words unsaid intentionally. In fact, most of the things she¡¯d mentioned were said to convince the nobles to get their act together. Fortunately, it worked. Close to 250 interfaces popped up all over the battlefield within seconds, allowing Percy to consume it all. Nobody wants to fight the Greater Demons. Threatening them like that seems foul, but if it works¡­it works¡­ B3 Chapter 18 - Greater Threat II The communication crystal connecting him to the royal palace drained enormous energy. That was to be expected as the mana consumption increased exponentially with distance, yet Percy didn¡¯t think he would only have enough mana to maintain the connection for a minute. ¡°Good afternoon, Your Excellency. Do you wish to talk to your parents, or¨C...¡± The recipient of all communication crystals in the royal palace responded, but Percy intercepted. ¡°Sorry, Herbert, but I don¡¯t have any time to talk to my parents. This is important, so hold your scribe tightly and note what I¡¯m going to tell you,¡± Percy told Herbert, the man of all communication, ¡°Are you ready?¡± Herbert had been in his job long enough to understand what was happening. ¡°You can start, Your Excellency.¡± ¡°We encountered a group of roughly 250 Demons near Lithuan, a small town probably six days of traveling from the Beastland border. There were no winged demonic creatures but 207 Lesser Demons, 37 Elite Demons, including Cursias and Lifefeeder, and three Greater Demons. Three Thousand-eyed Hellhounds, to be precise. They were powerful, but I¡¯d say they were weakened to three-quarters, maybe less, of a Greater Demon¡¯s usual power. Of course, I cannot be sure since I¡¯ve never before fought a Greater Demon, let alone three at once.¡± Percy had more to say, but he waited for Herbert¡¯s response to keep going, and all he heard was the scribe falling to the ground. ¡°Y-your Ex¡­Excellency¡­Could you repeat yourself, please?¡± Percy raised an eyebrow but complied. ¡°There was a Demon horde of roughly 250 Demons near Lithuan. 207 Lesser Demons, 37 Elite Demons, including special Elite Demons, and three Greater Demons, though they were weakened. Please forward the news to my family. They should start with countermeasures to fight more Greater Demons in the future. I don¡¯t know why the Hellhounds were weakened, but I¡¯d guess the Infernal Lair I¡¯ve located was not nourished enough to endure the strain of three fully empowered Greater Demons.¡± ¡°A-alright Sir¡­I¡¯ve taken the note,¡± Percy hadn¡¯t talked to Herbert often before, but he had never heard of the middle-aged man being this scared. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it, Herbert. Everyone is still alive. Only one of us got injured, which Fiona took care of,¡± Percy finished the sentence right before his mana reserves were sucked dry. He could have told the others to infuse their mana to grant him a few more minutes with Herbert, but Percy was certain Herbert would be busy for a while now. Once he was done talking, the Abomination also digested the Demon carcasses. Why does it feel like you¡¯re satisfied with whatever is going on? You feel like you are over the moon now that you¡¯ve consumed a bunch of Demons¡­ The Abomination didn¡¯t respond to him. It didn¡¯t even vibrate within him, but Percy could sense how content it was nonetheless. But that was the confusing part. His Abomination had always been overly eager when it came to consuming Demons, Humans, and corrupted monsters. However, today, I was even more eager than before. It was almost like the Abomination couldn¡¯t wait for Percy and the envoy to encounter more Demon hordes¡­as if it was certain they would encounter more Demons on their path¡­The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. Stop overthinking, will you? Everything will be fine. You haven¡¯t lost control of the Abomination since¡­that fight with the Adventurers. You learned how to control the Abomination to the fullest. Even if you were to kill more humans, which WILL NOT happen, everything will be fine. You have the upper hand against the Abomination! Even though he shouted this in his mind, Percy wasn¡¯t fully convinced. He sighed deeply and sought distraction in the interfaces. [207 Lesser Demons (Minos, Gnylds) have been consumed. 2,401,901 Prosperity has been added.] [37 Elite Demons (Cursias, Lifefeeder, Pleacis) have been consumed. 6,893,325 Prosperity has been added.] [Three Thousand-eyed Hellhounds have been consumed. 7,001,095 Prosperity has been added.] The gains were already extensive, but there was one more boon to take into consideration. Percy had ordered the Blueflame Hawk to search for the Infernal Lair Seed. Since the Infernal Lair collapsed, it should have returned to its original shape as a seemingly ordinary marble. That was the case, and it added even more Prosperity to his little fortune. [Infernal Lair Seed (Enhanced/Damaged) has been consumed. 1,924,914 Prosperity has been added.] His savings were finally high enough again to upgrade his Monster Cards, which was needed for their future encounters with more Elite Demons and fully-empowered Greater Demons. [Gnoll Warrior Card¡¯s Potential -[Elite ?????] has been upgraded. 5,000,000 Prosperity has been consumed.] [Blueflame Hawk Card¡¯s Potential -[Elite ?????] has been upgraded. 5,000,000 Prosperity has been consumed.] The upgrade was more expensive than expected, but Percy was willing to invest this much, hoping the Monster Cards would receive an extensive upgrade. Unfortunately, neither of the Cards evolved. They might have reached Evolved potential and were thus stronger than their peers, but they didn¡¯t evolve into a greater version of their current self, which was unfortunate. Still, Percy felt the Gnoll Warrior and Blueflame Hawk were getting closer to evolving. ¡°Did you report the incident to the mayor?¡± Percy asked Melissa when she returned from the town. Even though they didn¡¯t have to explain anything to the mayor or townspeople, it was still better to calm the folk by telling them everything was fine and that they¡¯d dealt with the Demons. ¡°I reassured them that the kingdom¡¯s forces are on the way and that they will remove all future threats if there are any major threats in the first place. However, I¡¯m still wondering how exactly they got to us. The Demons were heading to us in a straight line until they discovered the town. Does that make sense to you?¡± She asked. Unfortunately, it makes sense. But understanding something doesn¡¯t mean it makes everything better. Sometimes, knowledge is like poison. You might be fine with traces of poisoned knowledge, but too much of it and you will go down whether you want or not. The back of his head, the Devil¡¯s mark, felt like it was burning when Melissa asked the question, but Percy only shrugged. He couldn¡¯t respond to her in the way he wanted. ¡°Since we¡¯re done here¡­let¡¯s leave,¡± Percy said instead, trying to sound nonchalant, but the way Fiona stared at him through her dead, milky-white eyes made clear that he had just been exposed. He winced inwardly and cursed himself. B3 Chapter 19 - Identified The envoy¡¯s first encounter with demons didn¡¯t remain the last one. It was the start of a daily occurrence, transforming the envoy¡¯s journey to the Beastlands from a peaceful trip to a dangerous odyssey. Sometimes, the envoy was forced to fight a small Demon horde in the morning and another one in the afternoon or evening. Their encounters with hundreds of Demons at a time didn¡¯t make any sense as the number of Demon sightings across the Kainesh Kingdom didn¡¯t increase. If anything, the number of sightings decreased. There are always one or multiple Enhanced Infernal Lairs. It feels like they manifest wherever we¡¯re going it is almost like¨C... Percy couldn¡¯t finish the thought because the Blueflame Hawk informed him about another mass of purple and black dots, forcing him to focus on the fight ahead. ¡°The Blueflame Hawk discovered another Demon horde. This one seems to be bigger than the others,¡± He informed the others, who could only sigh deeply. They were tired and would much rather evade the Demon horde ¨C most of them, at least ¨C but if they¡¯d learned something about the crown prince in the last few days, it was that Percy wasn¡¯t going to make a run for it. He would face the Demon horde alone if necessary. ¡°The hawk is getting closer to determine what we have to face¡­but it looks like there is no Greater Demon among them,¡± Percy added, which cast a smile on the nobles¡¯ faces. However, Percy couldn¡¯t smile at that. His eyes narrowed to tiny slits as a few more images popped up in his mind, ¡°There¡­is a human among them.¡± The smiles crumbled as fast as they blossomed. ¡°Is someone under attack?¡± One of the nobles asked, clearly hoping that some other Adventurer team was in a fierce battle with the Demon horde. That was a better option than the horrible things the others imagined. Percy shook his head to which Melissa replied with a sigh, ¡°Is it one of the hooded Demonic Gifted?¡± More images popped up in Percy¡¯s mind, showing the Demonic Gifted as he jumped through one of the three Infernal Lair that had been neatly planted next to each other. However, instead of joining the Demon horde, the Demonic Gifted jumped through the Infernal Lair¡¯s portal, leading him to the Seven Hells, right before the portals collapsed. ¡°It was definitely a Demonic Gifted¡­and he jumped through the Infernal Lair to travel to the Seven Hells¡­¡± Percy mumbled, a bead of sweat trickling down his temples. The Demonic Gifted must have heard about the envoy¡­and they tried stopping us. ¡°They created the Demonic hordes to stop the envoy,¡± Fiona said what Percy was thinking. ¡°Does that mean the Devil is afraid we will establish an alliance with the Beastlands?¡± Melissa asked in a whisper, her head flicking to Percy. ¡°That¡¯s possible,¡± Percy nodded even though he didn¡¯t think it would be that simple, ¡°Or the Devil wants us dead, thinking we are a major threat to its rise.¡± It was just another possibility, yet neither of the two options seemed feasible. There had to be more to it. ¡°Let¡¯s not think too much about it. We have a Demon horde to eliminate, and the appearance of a Demonic Gifted near the border to the Beastlands to report. One step at a time,¡± Melissa declared, but the last bit sounded like it was something the young Reeze had to say to herself as a reminder. ¡°This should be our last fight with the Demons before we reach the borders. Let¡¯s make sure we won¡¯t lose anyone in today¡¯s battle either!¡± Percy declared before summoning the Gnoll Warrior and Dragon Fang. Once again, there are no winged Demons. Isn¡¯t that too much of a coincidence? Well, it is not like it matters whether there are Archyeas or not. Percy shrugged inwardly and turned to the others once he retrieved the Gnoll Warrio¡¯s Silvron Sword Artifact. ¡°Blue thinks there are less than 150 Elite Demons, leading roughly 1,000 Lesser Demons. I think, Duke, the Glacier Lizard, and Blue will be enough to kill the Lesser Demons, but a handful of you can focus on the Lesser Demons as well if you want to do so. If you fight Elite Demons, don¡¯t forget that Lesser Demons can also wound you. Just because they¡¯re weaker, doesn¡¯t mean they cannot take you by surprise. Don¡¯t ignore the Lesser Demons!. If you sustain an injury, pull back and let Fiona heal you before the Lifefeeder starts feasting on your lifeforce. As for everyone else¡­kill your enemies as fast as you can if you do not want Lifefeeder to devour your prey¡¯s lifeforce. We had that problem once and¡­¡± Percy didn¡¯t have to finish the sentence. Everyone remembered their second encounter with a Demon horde and what happened to the Lifefeeder who¡¯d been cornered. The Lifefeeder had been feasting on their allies, recuperating from the wounds it sustained before gaining sudden boosts in power. If the Lifefeeder hadn¡¯t been killed in time they would have accumulated the prowess of a Greater Demon, which was definitely not something anyone present wanted.Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. ¡°We will be careful,¡± The Viscount¡¯s son said, but the confidence and battlelust flickering in his eyes was worrisome. Percy sighed inwardly, but checked his interface to calm down and see if there was anything to improve before the battle started. ¡ºPercy Kain¡» [Ego ¨C Coin of Prosperity] [Tier] ¨C [Master-4] ¡ª [Dragon Fang (Syreablade)] ¨C [Growth?????], [Dragonblood ?], [Gnoll Warrior (Evolved ¨C??) ¨C [Master of the Blade??],[A Hunter¡¯s Smell?], [Intermediate Strength Boost????], [Berserk ?????]] [Blueflame Hawk (Evolved ¨C??) ¨C [Hawk Eyes ?????] ¨C [Cyromancy?], [Intermediate Agility Boost ????], [Silent Reaper ??] ] [Capture Card ¨C No Inhabitant ¨C Mythical] ¡ºCoin of Prosperity¡» Prosperity: 28,221,235 ?Consume He was still a 4th Rank Master, but after eight battles with Demon hordes ¨C every single Demon consumed and transformed into Prosperity ¨C Percy wasn¡¯t too far to rank-up. However, ranking up once would be an insignificant improvement compared to the gains he attained in the last few days. First, both Monster Cards¡¯ potential was upgraded to [Evolved-??]. They still didn¡¯t evolve, but Percy was certain the next potential enhancement would initiate the evolution of both Monster Cards. After all, the potential enhancement for both Cards was more expensive than the remaining 28ish million Prosperity he had left. Percy didn¡¯t lack much to upgrade their potential once, but he was not in a hurry. After today¡¯s battle, he should have enough Prosperity to congratulate Blue and Hyean for their evolutions. But there was a lot more to congratulate than some evolutions. Percy invested more than 140 million Prosperity to upgrade the Monster Cards¡¯ Augmentation. [Blade Mastery] reached the peak and evolved into [Master of the Blade], [Basic Strength Boost] and [Basic Agility Boost] had been upgraded until both Augmentations advanced to [Intermediate], which happened to [Frostbite] as well. However, instead of evolving into [Greater Frostbite] or something along those lines, the Augmentation evolved into [Cyromancy]. [Cyromancy] was several times stronger than [Frostbite], but it was also ¡®different¡¯. Percy didn¡¯t have to go out of his way to control the ice element as he pleased. It heed his command in simple fashion without draining much mana. Percy also upgraded [Hawk Eyes] and [Silent Reaper] a bit, but their upgrades weren¡¯t as extensive as the rest. He could now walk around by muffling the sounds in a larger proximity, if he wanted, or do the opposite and silence only his immediate surroundings. [Hawk Eyes] improved, but it didn¡¯t unlock more powers since Percy had been able to see the streams of mana for a while now. Under normal circumstances, this ability should have only unlocked with [Hawk Eyes] at a higher level, but Percy awakened the blood of the Azure Dragon. His entire body was filled with pure mana and his mana perception was overly sensitive ¨C it had always been. It was no surprise Percy could see mana with [Hawk Eyes] even before it reached 5-Star. The others summoned their Monsters and retrieved their Artifacts to prepare for the battle ahead. They were certain to survive this battle as well even though the enemies¡¯ numbers were greater than before, but nobody was as confident as Percy. It would have been great if I could enhance the others¡¯ Artifacts and Monster Cards, but it is not like I own their Monster Cards like I own Bert¡¯s Cards. Percy was interested in inspecting the Monster Cards of the other nobles and Imperials and to upgrade them, however, that wasn¡¯t feasible. It was unfortunate, but that left more Prosperity to invest into his equipment and Monster Cards. He jumped down from his majestic mount, patted the horse gently and inserted some mana into the animal to calm it. The majestic horse wasn¡¯t a monster. It had a mana reservoir, but it was minuscule and barely notable. That was the norm for ordinary animals, even if it was rare. Riding with his horse into battle would only kill the mount and maybe even Percy. It wasn¡¯t a warhorse made for battles, especially not for bloody fights with demonic creatures. Percy took a deep breath and stepped forward, Melissa riding on Duke, Fiona on the Holy Triceratops, and others with summoned mounts trotting next to him. The Demon horde was not yet in their sight, but that changed quickly within ten minutes. The line at the horizon transformed from a beautiful emerald green into a sickly purple, mixed with large black spots. The Demons were coming for them. They spread out in a massive line, shoved each other aside to be the first to reach their foes, and accelerated until the slower demons were either split from the rest of the horde. The Blueflame Hawk used this opportunity. It waited until the slowest Demons were far behind the horde and unleashed batches of icicles to the backs of their heads and necks. [Cyromancy] aided the process. Not only were the manifestations of [Cyromancy] several times stronger than [Frostbite]¡¯s icicles, but they were also much easier to control and didn¡¯t cost more mana. Blue had a pleasant time silently circling above the battlefield via [Silent Reaper], hunting the slowest Demons in the back parts of the horde where nobody would miss them. Percy chuckled sensing Blue¡¯s excitement and accelerated as the horde closed in. He used the gains of [Intermediate Agility Boost] to the fullest and transformed into a flash, forcing the others to urge their mounts to full speed to keep up with him. ¡°Aren¡¯t you way too excited, Percy?¡± Melissa shouted from the side seeing the overflowing excitement in Percy¡¯s face. ¡°I am?¡± Percy responded, the corners of his lips curling upward. ¡°I guess, I am excited.¡± B3 Chapter 20 - Evolution Percy was surrounded by corpses. There was a pile of Minos bodies to his left and a river of Gynll carcasses to his right. Both pile and stream were surrounded by the corpses of Lifefeeder, Cursias, and Pleacis. There were fewer Elite Demon corpses, but they all had one thing in common. The Elite Demons had been killed with one decisive strike. After upgrading [Blade Mastery] to [Master of the Blade], Percy¡¯s understanding and comprehension of the blade skyrocketed. Combined with [Hawk Eyes] finding the perfect openings and both [Intermediate Strength Boost] and [Intermediate Agility Boost], Percy didn¡¯t even have to use [Berserk] to increase his prowess. It was easier to defeat the Elite Demons without unleashing [Berserk] as it allowed him to retain a calm mind to fight in the most efficient way rather than sacrificing efficiency for power. [Cyromany] wasn¡¯t something Percy was great at, but Blue helped him create volleys of icicles in a quick fashion. His mastery of mana was extraordinary, which made it easier for others to teach him simple techniques. That was how Percy learned how to fight efficiently with Dragon Fang while releasing a series of six icicles into the surroundings every other second. The icicles either killed a Lesser Demon on the spot or struck an Elite Demon before it could injure him. The impacting force was enough to block the incoming attack and to create an opening for a counterattack. Percy¡¯s defense might not be the greatest on the battlefield, but he surely embraced the saying, ¡®The best defense is a good offense.¡¯. His attention flicked to the Gnoll Warrior at times. Hyean fought near him and embraced the same tactic as his master. But instead of fighting as efficiently as possible, Hyean accepted his wild side. The Gnoll Warrior triggered [Berserk] and used [Master of the Blade] to cut his enemies into tiny pieces. The Gnoll Warrior was physically stronger than most of the Elite Demons present. Not even the strongest Pleacis had an easy time-fighting Hyean, even less with [Master of the Blade] active. Hyean overwhelmed the Pleacis and other Elite Demons with their tremendous physical strength and his terrifyingly high mastery of the blade. He defeated dozens of Lesser Demons and killed half a dozen Elite Demons in no time. Blue was not usually competitive but since Percy had started Ego-enhancing both Monster Cards simultaneously ¨C the bridge connecting the Monster Cards to Percy growing stronger with every enhancement ¨C the Blueflame Hawk started considering Hyean as a rival. Still, Blue didn¡¯t focus much on the Elite Demon. Defeating injured Elite Demons, or those who didn¡¯t even know that the Blueflame Hawk was nearby, were easy to defeat, but Lesser Demons were even easier enemies to best. One well-aimed icicle was all it took to kill the most formidable Minos. It was that simple for a creature nobody seemed to notice. [Silent Reaper] allowed Blue to stay hidden at all times, whereas [Hawk Eyes] was great at discovering the most perceptive Demons and killing them before their existence was exposed. The rest was easy. Blue didn¡¯t have as much mana as Percy, it wasn¡¯t as pure either, but despite that, Blue could conjure four icicles at once. Aiming precisely from an elevated position and increasing the distance was also not easy, and it took time. Nonetheless, four Lesser Demons fell victim to Blue every five to ten seconds. ¡°Is everyone alright?¡± Percy shouted at the top of his lungs after cleaving through a Pleacis, splitting the Elite Demon apart. He turned around and checked on everyone but couldn¡¯t see some of the nobles and two Imperials. ¡°We are alright. Some of these idiots got injured by a Mutated Lifefeeder, but Fiona is tending to them,¡± Melissa responded before adding, ¡°Most Elite Demons are down.¡± Percy frowned at first, but the last bit relieved him. As long as nobody was dead, other than their enemies, everything would be fine. *** ¡°Four got injured from a single Lifefeeder, but other than that, we got no injuries,¡± He glanced at Fiona, ¡°Or she healed them fast enough to keep the injuries a secret.¡± One Imperial and noble paled a little, but Percy shrugged, ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. I¡¯m glad everyone is mostly fine.¡± ¡°If you need some potions to tend to their wounds, I have enough high-quality potions to spare,¡± Percy offered to Fiona, who shook her head. She sweated a bit, but her smile had yet to cease. Their Healer wasn¡¯t exhausted just yet. ¡°I am fine,¡± She muttered. ¡°In that case, Melissa will report to the crown while I will [Consume] the corpses,¡± Percy turned to Melissa, who cursed quietly, ¡°Why do I have to do this?¡± Percy smiled at her misery, ¡°Because my parents keep bothering Herbert to ask about my well-being. They do not believe me anymore after I kept silent about my injuries.¡±If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Did they expect me to remain unscathed after fighting three Greater Demons? Am I some sort of deity or what?! ¡°But they trust me?¡± Melissa grumbled, to which Percy responded with a decisive nod, ¡°Yes, they do.¡± Melissa cursed again, but she followed Percy¡¯s order and reported their 10th and hopefully last fight with a Demon horde in the foreseeable future. Now to the fun part. Percy smiled around the bloodied battlefield and allowed his Ego¡¯s Abomination to let loose. He activated [Consume] and devoured the dead Demon horde in one go. It¡¯s nice when nobody causes any trouble. Everyone waived their rights to the corpses before I had to remind them. Finally, some professionalism! The Abomination gushed out of Percy¡¯s palms and shot high up into the sky. It shrouded the sun for a quarter of a second, casting a shadow over the royal envoy before splitting up, transforming into countless streams of pitch-black darkness. The darkness spread across the battlefield and crashed into the demon corpses with its maws wide open. The nobles and Imperials shuddered for the Xth time seeing the Abomination and what Percy¡¯s Ego was capable of, but the crown prince just smiled as the Abomination returned to him, accompanied by countless notifications. [1032 Lesser Demons (Gnylls, Minos) have been consumed. 12,217,601 Prosperity has been added.] [113 Elite Demons (Cursias, Lifefeeder, Pleacis) have been consumed. 21,361,993 Prosperity has been added.] His Tier progressed quickly as his Ego digested the corpses. The 1000ish Demon carcasses weren¡¯t enough to push him to the 5th Rank, but that was no problem. He had enough Prosperity to upgrade his Monster Cards, which should be enough to deliver the final push. He de-summoned Blue and Hyean and used [Consume] on Prosperity to check the Monster Card¡¯s state before proceeding with a vibrant smile. [Gnoll Warrior Card¡¯s Potential -[Evolved??] has been upgraded. 30,000,000 Prosperity has been consumed.] [Blueflame Hawk Card¡¯s Potential -[Evolved??] has been upgraded. 30,000,000 Prosperity has been consumed.] [Gnoll Warrior¡¯s Potential increased to [Evolved???]. Gnoll Warrior advanced to Gnoll Warlord. [Blueflame Hawk¡¯s Potential increased to [Evolved???]. Blueflame Hawk advanced to Glacial Roc] [Your Tier increased by one rank.] Mana flooded him, filling every part of his body to the fullest, but Percy was more focused on his Monster Cards¡¯ evolutions. I heard about Warlords and Rocs, but it¡¯s the first time I heard about Gnolls having a Warlord. Well, I never knew a Gnoll could become strong enough to become an Evolved Monster in the first place. As for Rocs¡­aren¡¯t Rocs at the Overlord Tier? I never heard about Glacial Rocseither. Are they weaker than the norm? Percy was fortunate to check the Cards¡¯ interfaces because they explained everything. [Gnoll Warlord(Unique)(Evolved ¨C???) ¨C [Master of the Blade??],[A Hunter¡¯s Smell?], [Intermediate Strength Boost????], [Berserk ?????]] [Glacial Roc(Juvenile) (Evolved ¨C???) ¨C [Hawk Eyes ?????] ¨C [Cyromancy?], [Intermediate Agility Boost ????], [Silent Reaper ??] ] The Warlord is a Unique type of Gnoll¡­that¡¯s neat. As for Blue, he is a juvenile all of a sudden. That¡¯s interesting. He was fully grown before, but now¡­ Percy chuckled and summoned his ¡®new¡¯ Monsters. The Gnoll Warlord was the first to emerge before Percy, stupefying him when he had to look up. Before Hyean evolved, the Gnoll Warrior had been around Percy¡¯s height. There might have been a few centimeters difference between them, but it hadn¡¯t been noteworthy. But now¡­now the Gnoll Warlord was a three-meter-tall ¨C maybe even taller ¨C monstrosity. Hyean was covered in bulky muscles like before, but the muscles seemed to have grown exponentially. If not for the Hyena-like face, Percy would have been certain Hyean was a full-blown giant. Then again, Hyean is also a little furry. If not for his face, he would fit more into the category of a dirty Yeti. Percy retrieved the Silvron Sword and handed it to Hyean but quickly noticed that the longsword Artifact looked like a toothpick in the Gnoll Warlord¡¯s hands. ¡°Sorry, my friend. It looks like I need to get you a new weapon. That might take a while since we are in the middle of nowhere,¡± Percy thought about it for a second and nodded slowly, ¡°Maybe I can get you something from the barracks of the border armies. There should be some broadswords or massive war axes to spare. They would be happy to exchange them for a Silvron Sword Artifact, probably. If not, I will use my connections.¡± Percy winked at Hyean, who giggled like your average hyena. ¡°Is that¡­¡± Mathis, the Imperial with the Purge Ego, approached Percy, who responded with a vibrant smile, ¡°Yes, that is Hyean, the former Gnoll.¡± ¡°You¡­¡± ¡°I enhanced it using my Ego, yes. It evolved, just like Blue.¡± ¡°You triggered an evolution in both Monster Cards? Wait, the Blueflame Hawk evolved as well?!¡± ¡°Yep,¡± Percy¡¯s cheeks hurt from smiling, and he summoned Blue to check how much his partner had changed. Not to show off. Definitely not to show off¡­ Maybe a little. B3 Chapter 21 - The Border Blue was majestic. While the Gnoll Warlord was a fierce powerhouse, capable of crushing Evolved Monsters and tearing apart Elite Demons with brute force, the Glacial Roc was an agile and dexterous creature with a majestic gait. The Glacial Roc resembled a massive eagle with a wingspan of close to eight meters. It had feathers made of ice, but Percy didn¡¯t think the Glacial Roc was heavy. It landed on his arm and felt as light as a feather. Blue screeched in excitement, looked straight into Percy¡¯s eyes, and grew heavy. It was almost like the ice feathers transformed into heavy ice blocks without warning. All Percy perceived were traces of mana coursing through the Glacial Roc right before its feathers grew heavy. Percy suffered trying to keep his arm high up, which seemed to amuse Blue. It chirped in excitement, decreased the weight of its feathers, and shot high up into the air. Everyone¡¯s eyes followed the Glacial Roc as it whirled through the air, and all of it belonged to Blue. Blue circulated mana through its feathers and flapped its wings with more force all of a sudden, releasing a barrage of ice feathers into the sky. The feathers were as fast as icicles created with [Cryomany] and of similar sharpness. A single barrage is enough to kill six Lesser Demons in one go. Maybe even more if they¡¯re squeezed together. Percy was interested in the Glacial Roc¡¯s new innate ability, especially after watching the ice feathers regrew at a visible pace. If Blue had evolved before the encounter with the last Demon horde, it would have killed all Lesser Demons long before the melee started. He laughed at that thought, attracting Blue¡¯s attention. The Glacial Roc dived to its master and landed before him, chirping happily as if it was a little chick. ¡°You are amazing,¡± Percy smiled at Blue and caressed the Glacial Roc. Its feathers were a little rough around the edges, but Blue didn¡¯t seem to bother that. It pressed its head tightly against Percy¡¯s hand and kept chirping until the ground near them tremored. The Gnoll Warlord towered above Percy and Blue, which seemed to annoy the Glacial Roc. ¡°You are also amazing, Hyean. I would never forget about you!¡± Percy praised the Gnoll Warlord, but Blue did not like Percy¡¯s words. It turned around and was about to attack Hyean, who released a hyena-like laughter before disappearing. The barrage of ice feathers flew past him, nearly hitting Imperial Mathis and Melissa Reeze. Fortunately, no damage was done. Percy stared dagger at Blue, who turned around before disappearing as well. To think they can summon and de-summon on their own will. Are they still merely Monster Cards? It doesn¡¯t feel like it. Both Hyean and Blue feel more like tamed monsters¡­or am I just delusional? *** Once Percy was done showing off his new monsters, the envoy proceeded. They didn¡¯t reach the border until night, but they could see bits and pieces of the Beastlands at the end of the horizon before they set up the tents to sleep in the Kainesh Kingdom one last time. They weren¡¯t disrupted at night, but it felt like the calm before a storm. That proved to be true when the sounds of battle ¨C war drums, battle horns, and more ¨C resounded through the camp. It was still early morning, and the sun had yet to illuminate all corners of the mortal realm, but Percy was already awake. He didn¡¯t need as much sleep as others and focused on mana training and his workouts instead. He was drenched in sweat when the others burst out of the tents, their eyes still weary. ¡°We need to move out soon,¡± Percy announced calmly, ignoring the war drums. ¡°Let¡¯s prepare everything neatly to meet the border forces,¡± Melissa nodded, but Percy intercepted. ¡°We have to depart now. There is no need to prepare much to face the Beastmen head-on. Wear your best armor, mount your Summoned monsters or horses, and try to look as imposing as possible. I will do the rest.¡±A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. The nobles weren¡¯t pleased, but they understood the gravity of the situation. Melissa sighed and complied. She summoned Duke in the strongest form she could endure without collapsing and put on her armor after mounting the Behemoth. The others followed suit while Percy rushed to his horse. They left behind the coachmen to remove the tents and follow the rest of the envoy with the carriages as soon as possible. Percy willed the horse to break into a gallop, and they shot forward. The battle cannot be far away since we heard the war drums. If we¡¯re lucky, they haven¡¯t engaged in close combat yet, either. I heard the war drums only two times. The rhythm is still slow. They have yet to reach the apex of the battle, that much is certain! He closed his eyes for a moment to forward all information to the Monster Cards and summoned Blue. The Glacial Roc transformed into an azure flash as it shocked high into the sky. Percy¡¯s eyes remained closed as he linked to the bridge, connecting him to Blue to see through his eyes. That was still difficult, but after the last Ego-enhancements it wasn¡¯t as straining. He saw everything from Blue¡¯s elevated position and smiled when he saw a small border settlement of the Kainesh Kingdom not too far away. It had been difficult to decipher at night but was visible now that the sun was slowly rising. Percy infused mana into his trusted mount, hoping the horse would accelerate while watching the upcoming battle. The Kainesh soldiers defended the settlement and didn¡¯t attack anyone beyond the border. Still, they protected the border by releasing elemental projectiles and arrows to the brave Beastmen who crossed the border. Six Beastmen crossed the border. The rest is staying back for now. Do they want to talk? No. Blue can sense their bloodlust from his position. Can we stop them without killing anyone? Percy¡¯s mind was filled with questions, but there were no answers. He could only hope for the best, so he sent Blue to shoot forward and stop the fight before it truly started. The Glacial Roc was a lot faster than the mounts. It reached the border settlement, crossed it silently, and released a barrage of ice feathers at the six Beastmen. The Beastmen sensed the danger from above and slowed down right before the ice feathers whizzed past them. They would have hit the Beastmen if they¡¯d kept going. The Beastmen looked up and took several seconds to discover the Glacial Roc. Their eyes widened in slight surprise, and they looked at each other before one took a step forward again. Blue conjured a blade of ice via [Cyromancy] and hurled it at the Beastman, who stepped back even before the ice blade was fully manifested. The blade still pierced deep into the ground where the Beastman stood a moment ago, but it was clear the Beastman had expected this scenario. ¡°Whose summon is this?!¡± He roared, but the only answer he received was the Glacial Roc¡¯s screech. Percy snickered through the tension occupying his body. He urged his mount to reach the settlement faster and couldn¡¯t help but feel like an eternity had passed until they arrived at the border settlement. ¡°You there!¡± Percy roared at the top of his lungs while throwing an ice-block the size of a marble toward a nearby border guard at the top of the settlement walls. The guard, a young archer whose full attention lingered on the Beastmen ¨C he was trembling violently, afraid of the battle with the Beastmen ¨C screamed and whirled. He pulled his bowstring back and was ready to fire a shot, which was impressive. Percy had to give him the benefit of the doubt. The archer might be scared, but he was well-trained and responded instinctively in the best possible way, given the situation. ¡°Don¡¯t shoot me, or your beloved kingdom will lose their crown prince again,¡± Percy teased the young man. The archer stared at him with wide eyes, recognition glimmering in his eyes when he saw vibrant azure eyes in the stranger rider¡¯s face. ¡°Tell your commander the royal envoy is here and that he should, under NO circumstances, attack the Beastmen,¡± Percy reconsidered his command for a moment before adding, ¡°Except if I tell him to.¡± The archer was stupefied but nodded slowly. He didn¡¯t even wait until Percy retrieved the royal emblem to verify his identity and rushed to the other archers and past them. The remaining archers guarding the settlement walls noticed their comrade and looked over, only to see Percy shooting past the settlement walls, followed by a group of fully-armed men and women riding summoned monsters. The power emitting from the monster mounts was tremendous, taking the archers by surprise. ¡°What is going on here?¡± It didn¡¯t take long for the Beastmen to notice the commotion and the incoming forces. They expected a full-blown battle and were ready to charge ahead when Percy¡¯s roar resounded. ¡°Stop right there!!¡± The Beastmen didn¡¯t stop because he shouted at them, but something in his roar attracted their attention. ¡°I am the crown prince, and we are the royal envoy,¡± Percy shouted, slowing his exhausted mount, ¡°We came to negotiate peace with the Beast King!¡± B3 Chapter 22 - Challenge The six Beastmen stared at Percy, until their leader stepped forward. He kicked the ice blade, shattering it into countless tiny fragments and snorted. ¡°Peace? Are you seriously asking us to stay calm after everything you cretins have done to us?!¡± He hissed, the scales covering his body clattering. The Beastman had serpentine eyes, large fangs ¨C venom dripping to the ground ¨C, a long tail smashing impatiently on the ground, and verdant scales instead of fur or hide. ¡°I am the crown prince and the Kainesh Kingdom is seeking an audience with the Beast King to clear all misunderstandings,¡± Percy remained firm even as the nobles behind him winced in fear. ¡°Misunderstandings?!¡± The Snakeman hissed, his voice filled with venom, ¡°How can you call it a misunderstanding when we saw YOUR people kidnapping our children. We fought them. I FOUGHT THEM. Are you calling me a liar?!¡± I expected this to be difficult but this is transforming into a much bigger challenge than I was hoping for. This guy is clearly at the Master Tier and probably at a higher rank than I am, yet the humans he fought were strong enough to kidnap children right before his eyes? There shouldn¡¯t be powerful Master rank Gifted, who haven¡¯t been reported to the crown. It was possible to miss a bunch of Gifted in the records, but Gifted Ones at the Master Tier were too strong and too rare not to notice. ¡°Is one of the Pillars lying?¡± Melissa mumbled in disbelief, not expecting someone to hear her, but Percy did. Others probably as well, but that didn¡¯t matter right now. Did some nobles betray us? I get that some of the older Adventurers hate the Beastmen because they lost a lot to them, but as far as I can remember¡­The Pillars survived the Beast War, which includes their families. ¡°You might have fought humans, but their actions have nothing to do with the Kainesh Kingdom. The crown sent us to help you find the kidnappers and return your children to where they belong: To their families,¡± Percy stared deep into the Snakeman¡¯s eyes, ¡°We want to help you.¡± The Beastmen behind the Snakeman studied Percy and his people and had clearly listened more intently than the Snakeman, whose bloodlust was hard to ignore. ¡°How can we trust cretins like you?! After everything you did to our people in the last Beast War, I will never trust you humans! Your kind is not to be trusted. You are better off dead!¡± The last words were not only directed at Percy, but the killing intent oozing out of the Snakeman was enough to press some buttons in the Imperials¡¯ minds. They unsheathed their weapons simultaneously, further increasing the tension hanging in the air, only for Percy to raise his hand and stop anyone from doing anything stupid. ¡°I have already introduced myself, which means you know who I am,¡± Percy stated calmly, channeling mana into his eyes while triggering [Hawk Eyes]. His eyes shimmered vibrantly as he added, ¡°Threatening me stands on equal grounds with a threat to the royal family. Do you really wish to declare war to the Kainesh Kingdom?¡± Percy pulled Dragon Fang out of the obsidian Syreblade Mark and infused mana into [Dragonblood] to spread his presence across the vicinity. Two Beastmen retreated instinctively as they saw the frames of a massive creature manifested around Percy. The Snakeman hissed in fury, but didn¡¯t attack right away. ¡°Do you have the authority to declare war on the Kainesh Kingdom? Can you speak in the Beast King¡¯s name to make an announcement like that? Do you dare to take responsibility for your words?¡± Percy asked one question at a time, his voice thundering across the border, ¡°What do you think the Beast King would think of your actions?¡± The corners of his lips curled into a smile as a bulb switched on in the Snakeman¡¯s head. Beastmen were proud beings, but they were also incredibly narrow-minded when it regarded certain topics. That was the current problem. They considered all humans as one entity and would hate every human as long as they disliked the action of one ¨C or a small group. That was unfortunate because it was exactly what caused the current situation. The Snakeman hissed just as angrily as before, but the leader of the Beastmen¡¯s border patrol was more clearly more cautious now.A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. ¡°You are good with your words, cretin. But that doesn¡¯t mean anything to me. Your words are hollow and your trust unearned,¡± He hissed, ¡°I don¡¯t trust you, and your slimy tongue!¡± What does he want from me? How can I solve the situation ¨C ease the tension ¨C without causing an all-out war. What is the most efficient solution? Meeting the Beast King and helping them would be easy if they let me¡­but they don¡¯t¡­ Coming up with a solution was far from easy. Percy felt like pulling his hair out. It would be so much easier if they were Demons. I would beat the shit out of them and¡­ His eyes widened slightly and a smile blossomed on his lips. ¡°If you don¡¯t trust my words¡­How about I show you how serious I am with my actions?¡± Percy asked the Snakeman, excitement bubbling in his heart, ¡°Let me demonstrate you how serious I am!¡± He cleared his throat and stared the Snakeman dead in the eyes. ¡°Let¡¯s fight. You and me. Right here, right now!¡± *** ¡°What was what? Are you insane or just tired of living, you idiot?!¡± Melissa tore Percy a new one, ¡°That guy is clearly powerful and a veteran on the battlefield. Don¡¯t you know what everyone says about old people surviving in a job where most die young?!¡± Melissa pointed at the Snakeman, a particular set of scales to be precise. She stared at him in anger, but Percy could see the worry underneath her frustration. ¡°I know what you are talking about,¡± Percy looked at the set of emerald scales among verdant scales. They were a sign of proceeding age among the Snakeman. The leader of the border patrol clearly fought in the last Beast War, probably in the wars before that as well. That was impressive, to say the least, ¡°But how about you look at it from a different point of view?¡± ¡°What?!¡± Melissa hissed, while Percy only smiled. It is funny how you challenged me to an Imperiat when I was still a commoner, but now that the tables have turned you¡¯re still trying to thrash me. He commented in his mind, recalling the months of traveling with Melissa. She had improved consistently as they traveled to the Wintermoon Estate and wasn¡¯t as bad as his initial impression had indicated, but that didn¡¯t mean it was easy to be around Melissa Reeze. At times, Percy felt like suckerpunching her. ¡°The Snakeman is old but only at the Master Tier. If he was a prodigy, he wouldn¡¯t be here like this. He has a bad temper and his mana is not all that pure. Maybe he got some good affinities, but given everything I can tell he shouldn¡¯t have an Ego. He won¡¯t have very strong Monster Cards either. Not what I would consider strong, at least. I will be fine.¡± ¡°Only at the Master Tier,¡± Melissa grumbled, looking at him as if she wanted to say ¡®How in the seven hells did we end up with such a stupid crown prince?¡¯. Maybe that was exactly what Lady Reeze was thinking, but Percy didn¡¯t care. He was confident. ¡°A fight? Did you really just challenge me, cretin?¡± The Snakeman asked provokingly, while the Beastmen around him roared and howled in excitement. ¡°Let¡¯s fight then,¡± He nodded, ¡°According to the Beastlands¡¯ traditions, the challenged decides the fight¡¯s nature.¡± That was also something Percy had known, but he didn¡¯t think about it when he issued a challenge to the Snakeman. It should be fi¨C ¡°We will brawl,¡± The Snakeman announced, ¡°A weaponless fight it will be!¡± Don¡¯t Snakeman love to fight with their sabers, or was that part of intel wrong? Percy looked down at Dragon Fang and shook his head. He is afraid of Dragon Fang. The weapon is his only fear. ¡°No Summons,¡± The Snakeman added. ¡°What about Augmentations? It¡¯s impossible to deactivate some of them,¡± Percy asked. The Snakeman hissed angrily, ¡°Remove your Cards then!¡± ¡°I would if it was possible, but that would kill me. It is related to my Ego,¡± Percy revealed, which angered the Snakeman even more, ¡°Then use your Augmentations. But using your Ego is forbidden!¡± Percy shrugged in response. He was more than fine with that and stored Dragon Fang in the obsidian mark again. His eyes shut tightly as he focused on [Dragonblood] and the Azure Dragon¡¯s Essence coursing through him. Several minutes of silences passed until everyone made enough space to fighter at the borders of the two nations. ¡°Are you ready to die, cretin?¡± The Snakeman provoked Percy, who opened his eyes calmly, unleashing a mana shockwave. A primal roar escaped his lips, taking the Snakeman by surprise. But it was only for a moment. He regained his senses a moment later. ¡°I take that as a yes.¡± A moment later, the referee started the battle and the two forces charged at each other. B3 Chapter 23 - The Brawl Percy couldn¡¯t be certain about what was happening, but he had a fair share of theories flashing through his mind as he bolted toward the Snakeman. His mind went blank as if on command and he moved instinctively. Percy accelerated, his blood boiling and his mana ciruclating frantically through his body in a desperate attempt to regulate his body temperature, but he noticed none of that. His only focus was the Snakeman ahead of him. The Essence of the Azure Dragon surged through him, or so Percy guessed, as he activated several Augmentation. They were stronger than usually, but again, Percy was too absentminded to realize what was happening. He appeared before the Snakeman, twisted his body to an uncomfortable degree when the Beastman lunged at him, and reached for the Snakeman¡¯s face. He could have punched the Snakeman in the stomach or use [Cyromancy] to gain an advantage against the Snakeman, but Percy did none of that. His hand shot toward the Snakeman¡¯s face and reached it. His fingers dug into the Smakeman¡¯s scales, cracking several scales with brute force before squeezing even tighter. The Snakeman hissed in pain, coated his claw-like fingers in mana before adjusting them to replicate a spear blade and thrust it toward Percy¡¯s arm. The counterattack came to no surprise, but instead of pulling away, Percy infused more power into his arm. [Dragonblood] was triggered and more of the Azure Dragon¡¯s Essence he had awakened surged toward his arm. The Essence reached his fingers and Percy would have groaned in pain if not for the adrenaline filling his entire beings as the bones underneath his skin shifted like worms. Something was happening to his hand, but Percy focused on the Snakeman¡¯s attack instead. The mana blade coating the Snakeman¡¯s claws were just about to reach his elbow and pierce neatly through it when his skin shifted. Mana surged to his elbow, triggering a response from his body and dragon blood. His skin all around his elbow seemed to transform into scales, dyed in the purest mana within Percy¡¯s mana reservoir. They were dyed vibrant azure. The Snakeman¡¯s attack impacted and should have crushed Percy¡¯s elbow, but instead of hitting his elbow first, the mana blade pierced through a thick layer of ice growing out of Percy. It grew explosively and expanded rapidly, deteriorating the impacting force. As the mana blade pierced through the ice, it lost stability. The deeper it pierced through the ice, the more freezing properties it released into the surroundings, into the mana blade. But that wasn¡¯t enough. The mana blade pierced through the layers of ice and struck Percy¡¯s scaled elbow. Then¡­Then there was nothing. The blade impacted heavily and its tip pierced through the vibrant azure scales, but that was about it. The Snakeman¡¯s eyes narrowed to tiny slits as the mana blade came in contact with Percy¡¯s blood. The mana used to create the mana blade rebelled suddenly and went against the Snakeman¡¯s will. It dispersed, destroying the mana blade at once. ¡°Dominion!?¡± The Snakeman hissed in what Percy would label as pure shock. However, Percy couldn¡¯t hear him properly. His attention diverted to his hand which seemed to shapeshift into a claw. His hand seemed to expand, scales growing from his skin, while pointed bones, as black as the eternal night, burst through the skin of his fingertips. In the Seven Hells! Percy¡¯s eyes widened, the shock pulling him out of the fully-focused state. What is happening to me? Am I transforming? His expression distorted in confusion as he recalled a familiar picture of the Azure Dragon hovering above the dining hall. His Azure Dragon. The black claws growing from his fingertips weren¡¯t as eerie as the claws of his father¡¯s dragon, but that didn¡¯t matter. He was growing claws. Dragon claws! The shock should have affected him, yet his body kept moving instinctively. He tightened his grip around the Snakeman¡¯s face, the black claws digging into his skull until a cracking sound devoured all other sounds. Percy heard a few gasps around him and saw a glimmer of fear in the Snakeman¡¯s eyes for the first time. What am I doing? I never planned to kill him. I wanted to overwhelm and crush him to gain the Beastmen¡¯s respect, but not kill him!Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work! Percy willed his body to stop. His instincts fought against his mental command, but it was to no avail. Percy regained full control of his body and stopped. He removed the claws from the Snakeman¡¯s skull and looked into his serpentine eyes. The glimmer of fear left the Snakeman¡¯s eyes, confusion and a trace of respect replacing it, yet Percy got distracted when something within him radiated pure dissatisfaction. Not against the Snakeman. No. The dissatisfaction was aimed toward Percy. Something within him loathed Percy for his action. The Azure Dragon Essence receded and his claws retracted, returning his hands to its original shape and appearance. His hand was in pain, unbearable pain that drained his willpower rapidly. He would have loved to rush to Fiona and request her aid, but the brawl was not yet over. Percy had just gained a trace of respect from the Snakeman. There was no way Percy would throw it away just because he was in a ¡®little¡¯ pain. He tapped into his mana reserves and pulled them out of the mana reservoir without leaving a single trace behind, and circulated it through his body. Mana oozed out of his skin, coating it thickly before spreading outward, pushing his presence farther into the surroundings. The Snakeman conjured a mana blade again, but once Percy¡¯s mana reached the Snakeman, it crumbled again. The Snakeman stared at Percy, disbelief flickering in his eyes. A moment later, Percy shot forward, his hands clenched tightly into fists, coated in several layers of mana. The bloody brawl had just begun. *** ¡°Is¡­Is that normal?¡± Mathis asked Melissa, his face drained of all color. ¡°That? You surely don¡¯t mean Percy¡¯s barbaric fight with that Beastman?¡± Melissa responded curtly after a few seconds. She didn¡¯t even look at Mathis, her eyes drawn to Percy, who was covered in cuts and bruises. However, the oddity was that Percy¡¯s smile never ceased. If anything, Percy was smiling more vibrantly than ever since they engaged in a proper brawl. Percy and the Snakeman had been engaged in a fierce brawl of punches, kicks, tail sweeps, and a bite, which Percy evaded in the last moment, avoiding the Snakeman¡¯s highly potent venom stream. It was bloody, to say the least, but the Snakeman looked worse than Percy. That was their greatest fortune. Percy was not well off, his cheeks bust open and his arms and legs covered in claw marks and bruises ¨C some bones in his body must have broken as well ¨C but the Snakeman¡¯s left arm was limply attached to his shoulder and he had only two or three intact scales left in his face. Blood gushed uncontrollably through the broken scales, indicating more serious injuries underneath the destroyed scales. ¡°If you ever consider something like this as normal, you should go to the Healers. They will help you get your act together, right Fiona?¡± Melissa patted Fiona¡¯s shoulder, but her friend didn¡¯t respond. Fiona¡¯s milky-white eyes were glued to the battlefield ahead, beads of sweat trickling down her temples. ¡°Is he really human?¡± Fiona murmured instead. ¡°Percy? I would guess so. King Phillip and Queen Reina are certain he is their child. Devil¡¯s Touch might have done something to him, but the Healers at the royal palace said Percy is perfectly fine. In fact, your grandmother checked him out. She verified his identity as a rightful heir to the Azure Dragon¡¯s throne.¡± ¡°Dragon?¡± That was the only thing Fiona seemed to have heard. She nodded slowly as if the pieces in her mind were finally coming together. ¡°Is that how he comprehended Dominion? Because he awakened the blood of his ancestors¡­?¡± Melissa had no idea what her friend was talking about, but she wasn¡¯t given the luxury to ask about it. A loud crash rang through the surroundings and a cacophony of roars and exclamations erupted. The guards on the settlement walls, alongside the nobles and Imperials who¡¯d cheered on Percy, were over the moon. Melissa¡¯s head flicked to Percy, who was towering above the Snakeman, his foot pressed tightly on the Snakeman¡¯s chest. ¡°Do you surrender?¡± Percy asked with an icy voice. He didn¡¯t wish to drag the battle on for much longer. They had a lot to do and couldn¡¯t waste their time with mundane fights like this. However, the Snakeman didn¡¯t surrender. He looked Percy straight in the eyes. ¡°Is that really necessary?¡± Percy asked, while applying more force on his foot. The scales underfoot cracked and shattered, but the Snakeman remained silent. Percy sighed deeply and was about to reconsider his decision, when an unfamiliar voice rang out. ¡°Knocking him out is enough.¡± It was one of the Snakeman¡¯s five direct subordinates. The Snakeman hissed, but he couldn¡¯t turn his head to find out who¡¯d exposed the tradition because Percy¡¯s fist crashed into his face one last time, knocking the Snakeman unconscious. He turned to the Beastman and nodded politely. ¡°Thanks. I didn¡¯t want to kill him.¡± The Beastman swallowed hard but nodded. He was glad their enemy didn¡¯t resort to killing their leader. B3 Chapter 24 - Respect The Snakeman wasn¡¯t unconscious for long, but it was long enough to check out the other Beastmen. Their bloodlust disappeared, and they don¡¯t seem to hate me as much as they did before. Some of them are still similar to me and the others, but Fiona''s focus on healing the Snakeman first affected them. This isn¡¯t within their expectations of the human race. The younger ones only heard about the Beast War, but the older ones participated. They know how cruel and greedy humans can be. Percy understood the Beastmen¡¯s confusion and vigilance, which was also why he told Fiona to pay full attention to the Snakeman¡¯s wounds first. Although he might look like a beaten mess, Percy didn¡¯t feel too bad. If anything, the brawl with the Snakeman filled him with euphoria. He was a bit hurt, and his hand felt like his bones had been ground to dust mid-battle, but gaining the Beastmen¡¯s respect was more important. They could see how injured Percy was and regarded his actions highly as he told their Healer to tend to his enemy first. Not many would be honorable like this young man. ¡°How old are you, human?¡± One of the Beastmen is a towering figure with a human-like face but an eagle¡¯s beak. He had white-feathered wings instead of arms and three claws where his hands were supposed to be. ¡°I turned 17 years old not too long ago,¡± Percy responded politely before adding, ¡°And my name is Percy Kain. What is your commander called?¡± The Beastmen looked at each other in surprise when they heard his age. They could see that he and the rest of the envoy were young, but nobody expected him to be a youngling. ¡°We call him Dex. He is the Apex of the seventh Beast Legion,¡± The Eagleman said, ¡°And they call me Wingus. Is the juvenile Glacial Roc your companion or your Monster Cards?¡± The Apex of the Beast Legion was similar to the commander of a Knight Unit. The only difference was that an Apex was the head of far more subordinates than a Knight Captain. It may be better to compare them to the heads of the respective Knight Orders. ¡°I don¡¯t know what exactly a companion is, but the Glacial Roc is a Monster Card. He is just a little bit¡­more than that. I don¡¯t know if you understand what I¡¯m trying to say, but my Monster Cards are closely tied to my soul and more sentient than most Monster Cards would be.¡± ¡°So you don¡¯t have an Ego that allows you to bind monsters to your Soul?¡± Wingus asked, the relief in his voice apparent as he blurted out in a whisper, ¡°He is not a Beast Master.¡± Beast Master? I read something about them in ancient scripts once or twice¡­but aren¡¯t they extinct? For a while now already. Percy couldn¡¯t remember exactly where or what he read about Beast Masters, but he was sure they ceased to exist thousands of years ago when the resurgence occurred. Dex, the Snakeman, regained consciousness and would have pushed Fiona away when his eyes fell upon the young woman, but Fiona was faster. She retreated and turned around to tend to Percy¡¯s wounds when she knew Dex would be fine. Fiona grasped Percy¡¯s hand with some force. Percy winced and looked at her pleadingly, but Fiona couldn¡¯t see that ¨C obviously. She used Healing Star and focused on his mashed hand while triggering [Aura of Healing] to heal his other wounds. Percy was shrouded in a pristine golden hue, which expelled the tension in his body before accelerating his natural regeneration drastically. Since Percy¡¯s natural regeneration was already great, it didn¡¯t take long until his bruises were barely visible. The claw marks healed, transforming into thin, red lines that healed rapidly as well. His hand took a little longer to heal, and it was clear that Fiona had to use her Ego more extensively. Surprisingly enough, Fiona ranked up while mending his wound. A surge of mana flooded the young woman, taking her by surprise ¡°It looks like you need to sustain more wounds,¡± Fiona joked lightly, but Percy was unsure if the young Healer was actually joking. It might be worth a try if she could increase her rank faster by mending his injuries. ¡°That was a joke. Stop getting injured, and my life will be much easier,¡± Fiona responded more seriously this time.Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°I think you should spend less time with Melissa. She¡¯s influencing you too much,¡± Percy mumbled, ¡°I liked you more two weeks ago.¡± Melissa must have heard what Percy said because she glared at him, but that issue was something he could solve later. ¡°Are you ready to stop this nonsense and bring us to the Beast King?¡± He looked at Dex, who¡¯d returned to his direct subordinates. It looked like they had something to talk about, probably about one of them betraying their Apex, but he turned back to Percy a moment later. ¡°You are¡­weird,¡± Dex hissed, to which Percy could only respond with a nod. He was indeed weird. There was no doubt about that. ¡°And I think you don¡¯t understand what exactly I mean,¡± Dex continued, ¡°Mana Dominion. That¡¯s not something a Master can do. Or should be able to. You were actively suppressing my mana, forcing it to dispel. Your blood and mana¡­is weird.¡± Once again, Percy nodded. He understood what the Snakeman was talking about. His mana was several times more pure than the norm, and his blood contained the awakened remnants of his ancestor, the Azure Dragon. He might not know what exactly Mana Dominion was or how to control it, but Percy recalled the sensation. ¡°Does that mean you accept your loss and you will bring us to the Beast King?¡± Percy repeated. ¡°My men will patrol the border, but we won¡¯t attack you and your subordinates. However, we won¡¯t hesitate to attack anyone who crosses the border without our permission!¡± Dex hissed angrily, yet Percy couldn¡¯t tell if the Snakeman was angry because he had to comply with Percy¡¯s request or something else. It didn¡¯t really matter. Dex could be mad all he wanted as long as they met the Beast King. The coachmen finally arrived with the carriages, but Dex hissed in their direction the moment he recognized what was going on, ¡°No! Only you and your envoy. I won¡¯t be responsible for bringing any more humans into the Beastlands! Granting you and the other younglings entrance into the Beastland can already cost me my head!¡± The nobles were about to say something, but Percy raised his hand to stop them, ¡°We weren¡¯t going to bring the carriages and Normies either way. The Beastlands aren¡¯t suitable for Normies, let alone carriages.¡± Wingus and the other Beastmen cocked an eyebrow, ¡°He studied the Beastlands.¡± Percy burst into laughter at that, ¡°Of course I did. I¡¯m the head of the royal envoy and the crown prince. If I fail on my first royal mission, another Beast War might erupt. I don¡¯t want that to happen. Thus, the research.¡± Dex and others nodded, but no more pleasantries were exchanged. The Snakeman gestured to the envoy to follow, which they did after Melissa lectured the nobles, telling them off for being spoiled brats even though they¡¯d long since known where they would travel with the envoy. ¡°How in the Seven Hells did you guys expect to be treated as a foreign force in the Beastlands? They respect strength and confidence. Just look at Percy and how he¡¯s treated. If you don¡¯t start and pull yourself together, you will have a much harder time in the Beastlands than necessary,¡± Melissa growled, ¡°And don¡¯t even think about leaving midway. Everyone has to write a report about the royal mission once we¡¯re done here. I sure hope you don¡¯t think I will praise you all to the Heavens and beyond if you don¡¯t get your act together by the time we cross the border!¡± Percy had to suppress a chuckle, but he had to acknowledge one thing. After the fight with Dex, everyone looked at him differently. However, the Beastmen¡¯s attention changed again once his age came to light. They looked at him with the desire to fight. The other Beastmen wanted to fight him as well. That should be a good thing. Beastmen love fighting the strong. That means they acknowledged my power and must have accepted me. Some are still vigilant, but their fear and vigilance are suppressed by intrigue and battlelust. That should be my greatest advantage. He nodded slowly and walked over to the coachmen to explain the situation to them. ¡°I don¡¯t know what the merchants and nobles ordered you to do, but you won¡¯t be able to enter the Beastlands with us.¡± More than half of the coachmen sighed in relief, while one of them even added, ¡°That might be for the best, Your Excellency. We are useless.¡± ¡°You guys aren¡¯t useless. Don¡¯t ever think of you like that. I am not sure what most of you are supposed to do now since I don¡¯t know your exact orders, but if some of you return to the capital, here are some things I need you to do,¡± Percy retrieved a pen and paper from his spatial ring and noted a few things, ¡°Bring that to the royal palace. If they reject you, which I doubt, go to the Dragon Nest and hand them the note. They will know what to do.¡± Percy patted the coachmen¡¯s backs with a smile and wished them a great journey. However, he sincerely hoped most would either stay with the border settlement or return to the capital on a detour with a group of traveling merchants and adventurers. After all, nobody knew where the next Demon horde would appear. But the coachmen¡¯s return was not Percy¡¯s greatest problem. It was simple compared to the task ahead. It was time to enter the Beastlands! B3 Chapter 25 - Free The Beastlands wasn¡¯t unlike the Moonlight Forest. Nature hadn¡¯t been altered much, even after the Beastmen occupied the lands for centuries. The surrounding environment was overflowing with life and beauty. Towering trees could be found everywhere, with smaller bushes and magical plants seeking protection. Even though I expected the Beastlands to be different, I didn¡¯t expect it to be like this. There are no streets, but even their paths are mostly trodden paths rather than being intentionally altered. It almost feels like Beastmen are attuned to nature as much as some of the old races were said to be. The trodden paths weren¡¯t as bad as Percy had feared, but his majestic mount had problems ascending slippery slopes. The Beastmen were forced to slow down and wait for the humans and their mounts occasionally and didn¡¯t hesitate to make fun of them because of it. Most avoided making fun of Percy because the combination of his age, combat prowess, and attitude were respectable. However, the rest who had yet to prove themselves weren¡¯t spared. A handful of nobles cursed the Beastmen for their teasing, but they didn¡¯t have the time or energy to do anything against it. They were busy holding onto their mounts, their eyes trailing the ground to find the most accessible path upward. Their butts were hurting, and their clothes were drenched in sweat. The nobles wanted to arrive at their destination and shower, though nobody was certain the Beastmen knew what a shower was. Would they have to wash up in a river? They sure didn¡¯t hope that to be necessary. ¡°The Beast King is not in his lair at this time of the year. He would have been out hunting under normal circumstances, but he should be somewhere nearby because of the recent incidents,¡± Dex explained in disdain after Melissa had asked him about the duration of their travel and when they would meet the Beast King. ¡°That being said, you are not certain where he is, but you know where he rests most of the time. Is that about right?¡± Percy responded curtly, to which Dex added, ¡°He is independent and doesn¡¯t have to report his whereabouts to anyone.¡± Some Beastmen had shapeshifted into monsters when they departed. Percy took in their scent with his [A Hunter¡¯s Smell] Augmentation, but he lost them a few minutes after they entered the densely grown forest. The mana density in the Beastlands was rare, and it reminded me of the Moonlight Forest again, which was also why his Augmentation was inefficient. Too many potent scents hung in the air, dozens trying to attract Percy¡¯s attention. Unfortunately, the Beastmen¡¯s scents weren¡¯t as potent and were thus less noticeable. I¡¯d be surprised if Dex knows where his subordinates are currently. His Beast Legion has no discipline, yet I doubt the Legions focus on that. Beastmen pride themselves on unlimited freedom and power. Sure, they¡¯re powerful. I¡¯ve known that¡­but the freedom part was difficult to understand. Until now, of course. The Beastmen could roam around as they pleased as long as they would arrive at their designated destination. ¡°When did the attacks on your kin start?¡± Percy changed the subject to focus on business instead. Dex didn¡¯t stop walking but turned around to study Percy for a moment, ¡°Your people never stopped attacking us. Since before the Beast War, they¡¯ve been attacking us with small numbers, weaklings without any real power. However, we were certain the Kainesh Kingdom had nothing to do with this since your King made sure to abolish slavery and to bring back our children and beloved. Your King was trying hard, which is why we respected him, but it has been a few months since the attacks intensified. Strong humans started attacking our borders. They stealthily enter the Beastlands ¨C we still don¡¯t know how exactly since our people seem unable to find out where they are coming from ¨C and attack where we least expect it. It is almost like they know us better than we do¡­and which is uncommon for new poachers. They know what they are doing. They must have been doing it for a long time!¡± That didn¡¯t sound good. Percy knew about some issues with war veterans, greedy merchants from the time after the Beast War, and how easily Mercenaries and Adventurers were convinced to do something stupid at the sight of gold. It was nothing new. If anything, a human¡¯s greed was something everyone heard or experienced at least once, no matter where they came from. It was universally known as mankind¡¯s worst trade. If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. ¡°If you don¡¯t know where they¡¯re coming from, did you try locating the area they attack the most? As long as you do that, locating the closest border and devise plans to capture them in the act shouldn''t be a problem,¡± Percy commented, but Dex only sighed. ¡°We did that already, but there have been no results. Even as we increased the patrols near the most attacked areas, more humans attacked. The patrols didn¡¯t find anyone. The borders were dead silent, and not even the bats didn¡¯t discover anything odd.¡± That doesn¡¯t sound great. So, the issue at hand isn¡¯t that easy to solve. But then again. It wouldn¡¯t have come this far if it had been easy to solve. The envoy wouldn¡¯t be here¡­probably. Percy was sure they missed something. The Beastmen, after gaining their respect, treated him with enough respect to answer most of his questions. Still, Dex didn¡¯t go into detail. Not even after the question and answer session lasted for several hours. ¡°How are you handling the Demon resurgence?¡± Percy asked at some point, but Dex¡¯s response surprised him. ¡°Demons? We have almost none in the Beastlands.¡± Almost none? The Oracle prophesied that the Kainesh Kingdom would be the center of trouble in the future, but if I remember correctly, it also said that the trouble would spread outward rapidly. How is it possible that the Beastlands have almost no Demons? After talking to the Snakeman for a while, Percy fell deep in thought. Unfortunately, most answers were on the surface level, not enough to grasp the big picture. He lacked information, and Dex was hiding some of it! *** Percy liked traveling through the Beastlands. It reminded him of his long journey to the Wintermoon Estate with Melissa and the Glacia Knights. The situation was different than it used to be since he was stronger and actually in the position of the leader, but Percy didn¡¯t have to do much. Melissa and the Imperials told him to focus on the Beastmen and to socialize with them rather than pay attention to the nobles¡¯ discomfort whenever they got teased. The Imperials didn¡¯t have a fragile ego like the heirs, and Melissa was strong enough to stand up for herself. She ended up gaining some respect for being the crap out of a Porcupine-type Beastman. The Beastman had been provoking the nobles, poking them left and right ¨C with words but also literally ¨C and Melissa wasn¡¯t the type to hold back. She¡¯d learned everything about the Beastlands and its occupants that had to be learned, however, she wasn¡¯t a punching bag. The Porcupine learned that the hard way. While Melissa was busy handling the childish noble heirs and the Beastmen¡¯s provocations, Percy was at the head of the group, talking to Dex and accepting challenges from various Beastmen. Most Beastmen daring to challenge him were youngsters not on the same level as Percy, but he knew it would be rude to reject their challenges. Thus, Percy showed compliance and beat the shit out of the Beastmen. Only three days had passed, but Percy fought more than two dozen Beastmen. The challenges ended quickly, yet more Beastmen arrived to challenge him. They didn¡¯t even seem to care about getting beaten to a pulp. It almost felt like a compliment, which seemed problematic in multiple ways. At some point, Percy discovered new arrivals, Beastmen who weren¡¯t even part of the Beast Legion. They arrived to fight Percy and watch him fight. Percy didn¡¯t mind, but the rest of the envoy grew increasingly tense as more and more Beastmen arrived¡­some with the sole purpose of provoking the humans, hoping they would make a mistake. Fortunately, that didn¡¯t happen, and more honorable Beastmen defended the envoy when the troublemakers moved toward threatening Fiona. She was the Healer and had healed every Beastman who¡¯d challenged Percy without hesitation. Even if she hadn¡¯t done that, the Beastmen wouldn¡¯t be this dishonorable. Healers shouldn¡¯t be harmed! ¡°How much longer do we have to travel?¡± Fiona asked Percy one afternoon. She was tired after healing a dozen Beastmen, which Percy had beaten to a pulp, and wished nothing more than some rest. Fiona was one of the more resilient members of the envoy, yet she was worn out like the rest. Unfortunately, Percy couldn¡¯t give her a satisfying answer. He had no idea either. Nobody told him how long it would take, though, given the Beastmen¡¯s attitude, Percy was sure they would arrive soon. B3 Chapter 26 - Strike It was the evening on the third day since they¡¯d entered the Beastlands when the atmosphere changed. The temperature increased instead of dropping, and the mana currents around them twisted in agony. The Beastmen halted in unison and looked into the sky. It looked like the trees were pulled aside, the canopy shoved in all directions to make space for a humongous, winged lion- As it descended, the lion seemed to cover the sky in its entirety, the darkness of the night acting as an extension of its onyx-colored fur. The lion¡¯s wings were made of dark violet feathers, resembling obsidian fragments wreathed in dark flames, just like the creature¡¯s mane. Melissa and the Imperials stiffened while three nobles buckled over, their legs caving in as a wave of pressure swept across the envoy. Even Percy¡¯s hand twitched, ready to draw the Syreablade at any moment if necessary, but something in the winged lion¡¯s eyes told him it wouldn¡¯t be necessary. The lion studied them like prey, but there was no killing intent. No bloodlust. No hunger. ¡°The Beast King,¡± Percy muttered while something deep within him stirred. His Essence had been triggered by the wave of pressure. It commanded Percy to accept the challenge and retaliate. To show him who the strongest creature in the lands of the beasts was. However, Percy didn¡¯t make a move. He subdued the pride blossoming in his chest while his eyes remained glued to the monstrosity of a beast. My behavior has been weird since¡­since I awakened the Azure Dragon¡¯s bloodline. No wonder the Old King told me to be careful. Percy reminded himself. I awakened a dragon¡¯s pride alongside its power when I unsealed [Dragonblood]...There are always drawbacks to gaining great power¡­ The lion crashed to the ground, stirring the soil around them. As the wave of dirt passed by them, a hulking figure covered in scars appeared in the winged lion¡¯s place. The man had pitch-black hair, vibrant purple eyes, and small obsidian-feathered wings sprouting from his back. He was incredibly muscular, and his muscles flexed excessively with every step he made. Yet, one thing about the man was odd. His face looks much more human than expected. There had been a bunch of Beastman with a human-like face rather than a beast¡¯s, but Percy had noticed that they were usually weaker than the rest. He couldn¡¯t tell if that was normal or if it was a coincidence that the weakest challengers had been those with a human¡¯s face, but one thing was certain. The man approaching him with a smile on his lips was dangerous. He was smiling, but his eyes were those of a predator. He was the Beast King. Percy¡¯s hair stood up to its end, and his blood started boiling. His Essence resurfaced, trying to convince him one last time to change his mind, but Percy prevailed. He stared at the Beast King, who turned to him to look deep into his eyes. A flicker of curiosity appeared in his eyes. ¡°They really sent us one of their cubs,¡± He growled quietly, but everyone in the vicinity could hear his deep, charismatic voice easily. It traveled far and created the intended effect. The remaining Beastmen kneeled right before the Beast King released a thunderous roar into the forest. Percy swallowed hard, his left leg trembling slightly, but he wasn¡¯t as bad off as the remaining nobles. Their legs caved in, and they slumped to the ground. He¡¯s subduing my people. Percy realized as the Imperials followed suit. Heavy pressure descended upon the Imperials, pushing them to the ground one after another. However, it wasn¡¯t until the pressure washed over Melissa and Fiona before Percy intercepted.This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. He stopped suppressing the Azure Dragon¡¯s Essence within him, and a deep growl escaped his lips. ¡°Oh?¡± The Beast King¡¯s attention pulled back to Percy. Fiona and Melissa breathed in relief as the pressure pulled back, but the concern in their eyes didn¡¯t disperse. If anything, their worries grew as Percy stepped forward, the mana inside him surging out as if he were about to challenge the Beast King. The Beast King appeared before Percy all of a sudden. One moment, he stood ten meters before Percy, and in the next, they stood face to face. ¡°This is interesting,¡± The Beast King reached out for Percy and grasped his mana before the crown prince could respond, ¡°You are more than a mere human.¡± He nodded as if satisfied with what he perceived, ¡°That is good.¡± Did I overreact just now? No, that shouldn¡¯t be it. But why is he acting nice all of a sudden? He tried suppressing everyone, demonstrating how strong he was just a moment ago. So why is he acting like this?¡± ¡°Strike me with all you¡¯ve got,¡± The Beast King ordered in a tone that allowed no refusal, ¡°If you came to find me with the sincere desire to solve our kingdoms¡¯ discrepancies, you will show me your conviction. Now!¡± Percy¡¯s eyebrows arched, but he didn¡¯t reject the Beast King¡¯s command. Quite the contrary. The corner of his lips curled upward as his Essence surged through him, filling him with the desire to beat the Beast King. At the same time, Percy¡¯s rationality ushered him to do as the Beast King said. Thus, both natures occupy his body. He and the blood of the Azure Dragon were of the same opinion. ¡°If that¡¯s what you wish for, Your Majesty,¡± Percy responded, ignoring Melissa¡¯s groan from behind. He stepped back while focusing on his hatred toward the Devil and his frustration with the current situation. The Devil was already problem enough, but their trouble with the Beastlands, caused by some idiotic slavers, was at least as troublesome. The more he thought about their issues and how easy it should have been to solve one of the kingdom¡¯s greatest problems, the more agitated Percy became. Under normal circumstances, it would have been bad to let loose, but not right now. Percy allowed the Azure Dragon¡¯s Essence to go wild while unsheathing Dragon Fang. The Beast King steadied his feet as the Syreablade appeared in his hands, glimmering crimson in the darkness of the early night. However, he only dug his claws deep into the ground when Percy activated [Berserk]. The emotions he¡¯d unleashed fueled Percy¡¯s body with power as they intensified. It wasn¡¯t a pleasant experience to feel his emotions this intensely, but Percy knew it was necessary. Everything might crumble if he couldn¡¯t inflict sufficient damage on the Beast King or impress him with his attack. Nothing was certain, but if he messed up now, it would surely cause some damage and make it more difficult to please the Beast King. Negotiating any deals in the future, once the slavery issue was taken care of, would be incredibly difficult if he failed here. Everything depended on the next strike. Percy focused on his emotions and allowed [Dragonblood] to do whatever it wanted. He spread out his feelers to use [Master of the Blade] actively and activated [Silent Reaper] for a quarter of a second. That was all Percy needed to move forward. The first step was dead silent. Nobody could hear anything as Percy executed the first movement sequence. He transformed into a flash, his skin shimmering azure as his mana gushed out in a flood. The Beast King stared at him calmly, but [Hawk Eyes] depicted a series of clues hinting the Beast King took him somewhat seriously. The King¡¯s claws dug deeper into the ground before Percy reached him. Dragon Fang transformed into a flash, leaving behind an eerily cold trail as [Cyromancy] was applied to the blade. The blade whizzed toward the Beast King¡¯s head in the heat of the moment, but Percy didn¡¯t even think about slowing his attack. The Beast King had challenged him multiple times. It was only fair to repay the favor. Dragon Fang¡¯s razor-sharp blade collided with the Beast King, but instead of beheading the monstrosity, Percy¡¯s attack was stopped mid-swung. The blade struck the Beast King¡¯s arm, which had transformed. It was coated in pitch-black fur, wreathed in black flames, and covered in an additional armor, an armed guard, made of a material strong enough to resist the attack. Yet, instead of blocking the attack entirely, Percy applied enough force to drive Dragon Fang deep into the Beast King¡¯s forearm, nearly cutting the arm guard with a single strike. ¡°Not too bad,¡± The Beast King nodded, pulling his other arm back before fully punching Percy in the solar plexus. B3 Chapter 27 - Praise Percy didn¡¯t remember getting hurled into a thick tree trunk. He perceived everything around him as hazy and could barely make out Fiona bending over him. Beads of sweat trickled onto Percy¡¯s face, but he barely sensed anything. All he could perceive was pain. His abdomen was tense, and it felt like something pressed tightly against his stomach. A warming hue shrouded him, but Percy felt cold nonetheless. He hit me. Percy realized way too late and scoffed. That wasn¡¯t a good idea, as searing pain spread through his abdomen. Did he punch through my abdomen or what? No, that shouldn¡¯t be it. The Dragonscale armor protected me. Percy regained clarity thanks to Fiona¡¯s extensive healing within seconds and looked down at his chest. The Dragonscale armor was still there, and there wasn¡¯t a hole in his abdomen, but the azur-silverish metal was now decorated with a beautiful dent. It showed a deep print of the Beast King¡¯s fist, a mark of the beast¡¯s tremendous power. ¡°I should have engraved some enchantments on you,¡± Percy patted the armor and tried getting up. His back was still hurt from getting smashed into the tree, but Fiona¡¯s Ego healed him miraculously. He felt good enough to sense the immense discomfort of the fist-shaped dent pressing into his stomach. Do I want to know my chances of surviving the Beast King¡¯s punch without Dragonscale? Probably not. I don¡¯t think I would like the answer. He shuddered and coated Dragonscale in mana to store it in his spatial ring. There was no way to move around comfortably with a massive fist-shaped dent in the armor. Still, Percy summoned the armor again, ignoring Melissa¡¯s shouts directed at the Beast King ¨C Percy had no clue how she was still alive, given the glimpses of curses he heard her throwing at the Beast King ¨C and re-summoned Dragonscale. [1,000,000 Prosperity has been consumed.] [Durability reached its limit. [Self-Repair] is overflowing with Prosperity. [Self-Repair] will be interwoven into the essence of Dragonscale.] Initially, Percy didn¡¯t plan to engrave the enchantment on Dragonscale. Both his grandfather and father were certain the royal metal wouldn¡¯t break or shatter no matter what was about to happen. They were certain Percy wouldn¡¯t encounter someone strong enough to break Dragonscale. And if he met a monstrosity of that level, someone who destroyed Dragonscale like it was a piece of paper, the destruction of his armor would be his smallest worry. Maybe that would have been the case if the Beast King didn¡¯t punch him with full force. Unfortunately, that was what he did. His timing couldn¡¯t have been better either. It could take weeks before they returned to the capital, where the only blacksmith who could handle the royal family¡¯s alloy resided. The Dwarf was the only one who could handle Dragonscale, which was nice when you spent most of your time in the royal palace but annoying while you were out of the kingdom. [Self-Repair] was certainly useful, but it wasn¡¯t something Percy would have engraved on an armor like Dragonscale. Then again, Percy could have engraved many more runic enchantments on Dragonscale much earlier. Instead, he¡¯d invested in the Monster Cards. Dragonscale had never been on his priority list. It is how it is. Percy shrugged and stored Dragonscale in the spatial ring where it would be supplied with Percy¡¯s mana to repair itself. Only then did his attention turn to the Beast King. Even though Melissa was still cursing at him, the Beast King smiled. ¡°That¡¯s a great weapon you have there,¡± was the first thing the Beast King said when Percy regained his senses. Melissa turned around and sighed in relief, seeing that Percy was fine. He couldn¡¯t be in bad condition if he could stay on his feet. Fiona was much worse off, her golden hair drenched in sweat and stuck to her pale face. Melissa rushed to Fiona, and a potion appeared in her hands, whereas Percy¡¯s eyes landed on Dragon Fang. The Beast King had pulled the blade out of his damaged arm guard and studied it intently. If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. That¡¯s mine! Percy declared in his mind while lifting his hand. Dragon Fang heard his call and tremored violently in the enemy¡¯s hands. The Beast King could have applied more force to hold onto Dragon Fang, but he let go and watched in interest as Dragon Fang returned to its owner. The blade flung through the air and landed smoothly in Percy¡¯s hands. ¡°Neat trick,¡± The Beast King praised, but he looked rather unimpressed as he added, ¡°I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve seen a weapon like this before. A heirloom of your family, I¡¯d guess. Not bad. Your family dotes on you. That makes sense. You¡¯re not too bad. You might be strong enough to injure me once you reach the Ascended rank.¡± Dex and the other Beastmen in the vicinity looked at their king in surprise at that comment. ¡°Maybe I should kill you now,¡± The Beast King added with the same lackluster attitude, but neither Melissa nor the Imperials took the Beast King¡¯s commentary lightly. Melissa retrieved her Wand Artifact and prepared herself to call upon Duke in its strongest form while the Imperials unsheathed their Sword Artifacts. The nobles tensed up but also prepared for the worst-case scenario. ¡°Don¡¯t be such a pain in the ass. I won¡¯t kill him,¡± The Beast King uttered with a shrug, ¡°Since we have the same goal.¡± That didn¡¯t sound too great, but Percy was glad the Beast King was willing to leave him alive. That had to be enough for now. ¡°Your father is weaker than you. Interestingly, he allowed you to leave the kingdom. He is weak, but he knows what talented Cubs need. A challenge that allows them to grow. You are strong already; your mind and blood are more than acceptable, but you also lack a lot.¡± Percy was unsure how to respond to something like that. He never considered himself perfect and knew that he was far from perfect. However, he was trying to make up for his lackluster knowledge and experience by hard work. That had to account for something, right? ¡°I wouldn¡¯t consider my father weak. He might be a bit rusty, but¡­¡± Percy tilted his head. ¡°He is not a born fighter. You might be one, though. You aren¡¯t like these pampered brats and noble worms,¡± The Beast King said in a matter-of-fact tone. Percy shrugged, ¡°I never really thought about what I could be. I have indeed had many dreams since I gained access to mana, but nothing worked out as I had planned. That¡¯s why I decided to go with the flow.¡± ¡°That¡¯s also why I joined the envoy. I came here on a whim, more or less, and want to ensure humans and Beastmen can maintain peace,¡± Percy added, ¡°Let¡¯s capture those bastards who kidnapped the Beastmen to ensure your peoples¡¯ safety.¡± ¡°Why?¡± The Beast King asked. ¡°¡®Why¡¯ what?¡± ¡°Why do you want to capture them?¡± Is he asking me why I want to capture the slavers instead of killing them, or why I am trying to help them search for the slavers? Isn¡¯t the answer to both obvious? Percy was bewildered but answered as calmly as possible nonetheless, ¡°For one, I hate slavery. I never understood why anyone would like or approve of such nonsense. It¡¯s disgusting and goes against my moral code. Second, I don¡¯t like people threatening the people of entire kingdoms with their stupid acts. If they wish to stir trouble, they should break each others¡¯ heads.¡± ¡°Is that all? I think there is more to it,¡± The Beast King pointed out, which Percy nodded. Melissa stepped forward, looking like she wanted to intercept, but Percy was already on it. ¡°I hope we can become allies against the Demon threat. One of the Devils will soon leave the Seven Hells and descend upon the mortal realm. I cannot tell you the exact date because I don¡¯t know it, but it won¡¯t be long if I¡¯m not wrong¡­I saw it.¡± Now, it was time for Melissa to look confused at him. She was never good at composing herself and stared blankly in his direction. But Melissa wasn¡¯t alone. Even the Beast King was confused, ¡°You saw it?¡± ¡°I saw it in a dream,¡± Percy confirmed. He could tell how that sounded. Nobody would believe a stranger about some danger lurking in the danger just because they saw it in a dream. Even worse was that the Beastlands didn¡¯t have many issues with Demons. It didn¡¯t make sense to believe him, yet the Beast King did not show any signs of doubt or confusion. All he did was listen. ¡°A dream?¡± ¡°Yes. Please don¡¯t underestimate this dream, either. The Devil told me he would be coming.¡± This time, the Beast King¡¯s eyebrows arched, ¡°Why would the Devil do that?¡± Percy had already come much farther than he could have hoped for. He expected the Beast King to stop him, saying he was spouting nonsense. But the Beast King was listening. This was his chance. ¡°Do you know what the Devil¡¯s Touch is?¡± Percy asked, ¡°Because that connects me to the Devil.¡± B3 Chapter 28 - Mana Sequence Nobody intercepted Percy as he revealed everything he knew about the Devil, Devil¡¯s Touch, and his nightmares. He was ready to reveal as many details as possible to defend himself, fearing that the Beast King would have a point of view similar to the Old King''s. But the Beast King didn¡¯t respond as Percy expected. ¡°We do not believe in bad omens or prophesies. We are the source of our fates. We reach out to our fate, grasp it tightly, and change our fate as we please!¡± The Beast King rumbled in pride. ¡°That¡¯s nice,¡± Percy mused, ¡°I like that sentiment.¡± Many humans thought their fate was predetermined. They were certain it was impossible to escape their ¡®fate,¡¯ but the truth was that they were too scared to escape their comfort zone. Of course, not everyone could easily escape their fate. If one was born into a butcher¡¯s family and wouldn¡¯t gain access to mana, it would be impossible to become an Imperial. However, at the same time, it was possible to pick a slightly lower goal and do everything possible to become a guard, a soldier, or maybe even an Iron-rank Adventurer. There were countless possibilities to escape your ¡®predetermined¡¯ fate, but nobody said it was going to be easy. ¡°Nonetheless,¡± The Beast King¡¯s expression hardened, ¡°I don¡¯t think it¡¯s possible for us to become allies.¡± Percy didn¡¯t like that, his soured expression revealing how he was feeling, but he nodded in understanding. ¡°That is¡­okay. But is it possible to maintain peace and search for the slavers together? I want you and all Beastmen to know the Kainesh Kingdom doesn¡¯t tolerate slavery. We want to help you get rid of the slavers once and for all!¡± Percy declared determined. ¡°I thought you would try harder to convince me,¡± The Beast King noted, but Percy shook his head. ¡°This is not something I can force onto you. Of course, I could try convincing you to join our forces for the better of the mortal realm, but I won¡¯t give you any empty promises in an attempt to convince you. That is not because I am too weak or stupid to convince you to join our war with the Demons and one of the Devils, but because that¡¯s not how I work.¡± The Beast King shrugged nonchalantly, but his eyes lingered on Percy for a while. ¡°It¡¯s late already. The search continues tomorrow.¡± *** Sleeping in the Beastlands shouldn¡¯t have been overly comfortable. There were no structures to seek protection and they didn¡¯t install the tents either. Instead, Percy found a comfortable spot in the trees where he spent the night like he¡¯d done in the royal forest before he reunited with his family. How is my family doing? Have there been more Demon hordes wreaking havoc in the kingdom? Probably. But the kingdom¡¯s military forces should be strong enough to deal with them. The Pillars and the crown should have deployed their Knight Orders at this point. Yes. Everything will be alright. Once the misunderstanding with the Beastlands has been taken care of, we can reduce the border patrol again as well. We can move more forces to join the fight against the Demon hordes¡­ Percy¡¯s mind was overflowing with doubts and worries, but resting his back against the thick tree ten meters above the ground was oddly calming. He always had an easier time calming down, emptying his mind in the Wilderness. As long as he was surrounded by nature, Percy could calm down. Fortunately, that phenomenon didn¡¯t stop even after he became the crown prince. The burden he had to carry was much heavier than ever, yet Percy hadn¡¯t changed. Not much, at least.Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. The next morning, Percy was one of the first to wake up. He got up, stretched his body a little on the wide tree branch, and jumped down to check out if the others were already awake. That was unlikely. The sun had yet to rise above the horizon, and the last few days, maybe even weeks, had been too much for the envoy members. Percy understood them. He truly did. Traveling all day, fighting nearly a dozen demon hordes, and being in enemy territory wasn¡¯t easy on the psyche and body. Percy felt similar at times, but he couldn¡¯t sleep any longer. It is how it is. He shrugged and retrieved Dragonscale. Yet, instead of putting it on normally, Percy shrouded his body in mana while focusing on Dragonscale as he retrieved it from his spatial ring. The Dragonscale armor didn¡¯t manifest in his hands but conjured around his body. It didn¡¯t sit perfectly the first time Percy summoned it, but fixing the armor took only a few minor adjustments. [Self-Repair] isn¡¯t too bad. The dent is not visible anymore, and Dragonscale¡¯s durability has increased to the material¡¯s peak¡­well, not exactly the peak, but almost. Damaging it will be much harder from now onward. He smiled in satisfaction and started training. His feet dug deep into the earth underfoot as mana coursed through his lower body, and he propelled forward when he kicked the ground. Percy disappeared in the forest with [Hawk Eyes] active, transforming the surrounding environment into a parkour. It was difficult to see in the darkness, but that was precisely why Percy used this time of the day to run through unknown terrain. He spread his mana as wide and thin as he could possibly handle before relying on his senses to perceive everything around him. The increased difficulty made it several times easier to improve his mana perception and to see what would usually escape his eye for detail during the day. [A Hunter¡¯s Smell] was also activated, but Percy didn¡¯t pay too much attention to it. He didn¡¯t ignore his smelling sense, however, the crown prince focused on the vibrations sent through the ground as much as he paid attention to the surrounding smells. Every sense was important and had to be trained with great precision, but he didn¡¯t have enough time for perfection. Percy had to improve, the faster the better. He returned to the ¡®camp¡¯ and watched the first Beastmen and envoy members wake up. The Beast King had also returned ¨C he left when Percy and the rest went to sleep ¨C, his expression speaking volumes. ¡°Was there another attack?¡± Percy asked while wiping his sweat-drenched forehead. The Beast King growled as a response. That was as clear as a ¡®Yes, you annoying brick.¡¯. ¡°Do you want me to check it out? I have an Augmentation that lets me see very well. I can see mana streams as well. There is also an Augmentation called [A Hunter¡¯s Smell]. It isn¡¯t as strong as the rest, but it should be possible to perceive something.¡± ¡°I ordered our beast Trackers to follow the trails they¡¯ve left behind, but something irritates them. We think they use some concealment Augmentation, a potion covering their scent, or carrying something disturbing the Trackers. We always lose them when we get too close to the border,¡± He growled again, this time in frustration. ¡°You took samples of the mana they¡¯ve used, right? Can I see them?¡± The Beast King looked over, ¡°There wasn¡¯t much mana to store. What do you want to do with it?¡± Percy raised an eyebrow, which was enough for the Beast King to remember. ¡°Right, there was the Augmentation that lets you see mana. If you imprint the properties of the slavers¡¯ mana in your mind, you might be able to find them easier. Or you can discover them before they attack¡­the next time.¡± The last words were the hardest for the Beast King to utter. He felt inadequate as the Beastlands¡¯ ruler. No matter how powerful he¡¯d grown in the last 20 years, the Beast King couldn¡¯t help but feel incompetent in this situation. It didn¡¯t make any sense. He retrieved a small crystal containing mere traces of mana. Percy reached for the crystal and activated [Hawk Eyes]. He circulated additional mana through his eyes until they ached from mana overflow, but the result was acceptable. Why does this look so familiar? Did I see mana with the same properties in the past? No, I doubt it¡­ ¡°Is something wrong?¡± The Beast King noticed Percy¡¯s reaction, but he shook his head. ¡°It feels like I¡¯m missing a piece of information to put the big picture into place,¡± Percy grumbled and turned to the Beast King, ¡°I need more information.¡± B3 Chapter 29 - Plan A detailed map showing dozens of forests, small plains, and a mountain range had been spread on a flat stone. Percy and the Beast King leaned over the map, while Melissa and the Imperials studied the map from further away. ¡°Is it really okay if we see this?¡± One of the Imperials asked, but Melissa replied with a shrug. She had never seen a detailed map of the Beastlands. The most recent map of the Beastlands was from dozens of years ago and it didn¡¯t look anything like the one spread out before them. ¡°Study the map all you want, I don¡¯t care,¡± The Beast King said, but the tone in his voice was clear. ¡®If you replicate the map and use it against us, a second Beast War will be your smallest issue.¡¯ His tone suggested. Percy didn¡¯t hear any of that. ¡°The slavers are often near these plains even though there are only three tribes. You tried following them a few times, and so did your Trackers, right? But they didn¡¯t find anything and lost their tracks,¡± Percy murmured. ¡°I followed them through the air, but they disappeared behind a canopy once they reached the borders. I checked the ground for hours but there weren¡¯t any tracks,¡± The Beast King tried to stay calm and composed, but he failed miserably. His blazing mane flared up and the pressure in the surroundings increased as he emanated mana. ¡°These attacks in the outer tribes are more recent, right? They started attacking the tribes further away after you and the Beast Legions arrived to protect the three tribes,¡± Percy added, trying to stay calm. It felt like he was getting somewhere, but something was still missing, ¡°They¡¯re very stealthy and are smart enough to avoid stronger enemies, but they also avoid equally powerful Beastmen. The slavers aren¡¯t out for fights and take easy picks even though the mana sequences indicate that they¡¯re strong enough to best some Beastmen of the Beast Legions.¡± He nodded slowly, his attention pulling back to the crystal containing the mana samples. There was only one crystal, but it contained all samples of mana they¡¯d found and collected. At first glance, one could detect three different types of mana, indicating there were only three slavers. Mana sequences were unique to the Gifted and couldn¡¯t be faked easily, which was why the Beast King was certain that there were only three enemies. However, Percy didn¡¯t think like that. Two or three mana samples were the same, but most of them showed a minuscule difference in their sequence. Perceiving them was nearly impossible to those with the average purity level of a powerful noble. Percy was certain that his parents would have difficulties detecting the subtle differences as well. However, Percy with his exceptionally pure mana and [Hawk Eyes] could say one thing for sure. ¡°There are multiple groups of perpetrators. The three mana types seem similar, but there are actually more than 20 different mana sequences.¡± That meant there had to be more than 20 slavers entering and leaving the Beastlands at will. ¡°That cannot be. Mana sequences are unique. These mana sequences¡­¡±The Beast King pointed at the crystal in Percy¡¯s hands in anger, ¡°Are identical ¨C nearly identical if I were to believe what you said. Nearly identical mana sequences mean these slavers are all¨C...¡± Percy nodded, ¡°They are either closely related to each other, all twins, triplets, and so forth, or their mana sequences were all altered through external means.¡± The former was highly unlikely, but the latter was something Percy disliked more. ¡°You think someone¡¯s altering mana sequences of the Gifted?¡± Percy nodded, but he didn¡¯t go deeper into the topic. He didn¡¯t know what was happening, but it reminded him of something. If I tell the Beast King what I think, he won¡¯t believe me. He will think I¡¯m trying to convince him of something that ¡®cannot be the case¡¯. But what if it is? The mana sequences were all fairly powerful being at the Peak of the Elite Tier or stronger, but the problem at hand was that the Beast King had only discovered three enemies on his land. If there were truly more than 20 perpetrators, the Beast King and his patrols would have missed them entering and leaving the Beastlands countless times. The Beast King didn¡¯t believe his people were this incompetent, or that many humans were this fast, stealthy, and cunning.Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more. That means I have to show them the truth in a different way. But how? Percy raked his mind to come up with a solution, but the more he thought about it, the more complex his devised plans were. That was until he remembers minor details from the Beast King¡¯s reports. ¡°I think I have a plan,¡± Percy said, attracting the Beast King¡¯s attention, ¡°But you won¡¯t like it.¡± ¡­ A few minutes later, the Beast King held Percy high up in the air at his throat. ¡°Are you insane? You want me to resign my fate to a mere human?! Who in the Beast God¡¯s name do you think you are to believe I will trust you with that?!¡± The Beast King roared, clenching his claws around Percy¡¯s throat. ¡°Either we try this¡­or you come up with a better¡­plan,¡± Percy uttered while struggling to breath. The Beast King hurled him to the side, and Percy slithered on the ground. He remained on the wet soil to take a few deep breaths. ¡°I want to help you and your people, but they won¡¯t attack the tribes near your positons. They know where you and the Beast Legions are at. I don¡¯t know how, but they do. That¡¯s why you either HAVE to trust in me, or we try something else. But you will have to come up with a better plan. Soon, or even more of your beloved people will get kidnapped.¡± The Beast King glared at him, his mana gushing out, forcing the Gifted around him to the ground, but Percy looked at him unhinged, ¡°I am not forcing you to do anything. I gave you a simple plan. Reject it if you don¡¯t like it, but don¡¯t tell me that I¡¯m not trying!¡± The Beast King growled deeply, ¡°I loathe you.¡± ¡°No, you don¡¯t.¡± Percy responded, ¡°You loathe yourself because you cannot find a fault with my plan.¡± *** The Beast King, the Beast Legion under Apex Dex¡¯s command, and the envoy split in two groups and departed for the other tribes that had been attacked more recently. Their sole mission was to protect these tribes, forcing the slavers to return to their former routine. Only Percy left behind. He stayed in the trees where he slept the night before with [Silent Reaper] active and watched the Beast King leave with the royal envoy. Once everyone had left, Percy could have made a move, but he didn¡¯t. He kept [Silent Reaper] active while absorbing as little mana from the surrounding as possible to supply [Silent Reaper] and keep it active. Then he waited. He kept his eyes closed to sort his thoughts and think of was to improve their plan, but there was little for Percy to do. I¡¯m sure they know that something is off, but they didn¡¯t stop their attacks even after the Beast King nearly caught them. They might be afraid of the Beast King, but the lack of patience is their greatest weakness. Even if they¡¯ll know that it might be a trap, the slavers will make their move at some point. All Percy had to do was to be more patient than the slavers. He waited until it was late at night before channeling more mana into [Silent Reaper]. Only when [Silent Reaper] was unleashed at full power Percy dared descending to the ground. He didn¡¯t waste any time and rushed through the forest with [Hawk Eyes] utilized at its lowest. Traveling through the darkness of the night was still not easy, especially lacking the ability to greedily absorb the surrounding mana ¨C he had to stay lowkey and was thus not allowed to stir much mana ¨C, but it worked out. Percy didn¡¯t know how long he traveled, but he located the plains and the settlements of the three Beastmen tribes. There were no walls to protect the settlement, which demerited Percy¡¯s impression of the Beast King. No matter how attuned a race was to nature, you had to construct some defensive measurements when ghost-like enemies endangered your subjects. But that was something to discuss later. Percy rushed into the nearest settlement, avoiding the illuminated areas and swooped inside the largest hut, where he found a Rabbit type Beastman leaned over a stone Desk. Notes written on hide were spread out before the old man, whose ears twitched when Percy deactivated [Silent Reaper] for a moment. The man jumped up and circulated mana through his body, and was about to retrieve something with his left hand when Percy threw a small sigil across the room. The hut was faster than the Rabbitman. It hit the man¡¯s left hand, pushing it away as Percy¡¯s voice rang out. ¡°The Beast King sent me. Stay silent while you verify the sigil, before you ignore my existence for as long as I stay here,¡± Percy commanded in a hushed voice and activated [Silent Reaper] again. The old Beastman¡¯s hair stood up to its end but he remained silent as he inspected the Beast King¡¯s sigil. It was genuine. His eyes drifted to Percy, who had already inspected the hut. He retrieved a comfortable chair and a mattress from the spatial ring and spread it out as if the hut belonged to him now. The Beastman had many questions, but Percy¡¯s icy glare refrained him from speaking up. He accepted Percy¡¯s order, remained silent, and ¡®forgot¡¯ the unknown stranger¡¯s existence. Then the wait began. B3 Chapter 30 - Patience Waiting was certainly something Percy wasn¡¯t good at. He sometimes mentioned how patient he was, but the truth was that the crown prince was the opposite. If it was possible to solve something immediately, Percy would much rather do it right away. That was also why he hoped the slavers would attack soon, preferably on the same night. The first few hours, Percy was tense and ready to engage in a fierce battle at once, but his attitude changed quickly after the first night ended without an incident. The Rabbitman, whom Percy rightfully labeled the tribe¡¯s leader, returned to the hut. He glanced in Percy¡¯s direction and was surprised to see him medicate, keeping [Silent Reader] active while absorbing the perfect amount of mana he needed to maintain the Augmentation all this while. Percy didn¡¯t pay the tribe leader any attention, which was reassuring but also confusing. The tribe leader¡¯s mind was plagued with even more questions than before, yet he knew he was supposed to ignore Percy. That was what he did or tried to do. How about today? Percy wondered when the night descended again. He did a simple workout in the morning to ensure his body flexibility and maintain his peak condition, but that was about it. Percy was bored to death. To his misfortune, the slavers didn¡¯t want to ease his boredom. Several days of nothing passed eerily slowly. Percy was bored to death, so he ended up summoning the Glacial Roc after nothing happened for a week. Blue activated [Silent Reaper] before leaving the hut. It disappeared in the darkness of the night and increased its distance to the settlement. Percy started multi-tasking, communicating with Blue and demanding to see what was happening in the Beastlands while he was forced to stay in the settlement as its silent guardian. He never deactivated [Silent Reaper], not even when he was too tired to stay awake. He slept with the Augmentation still active and replenished the used-up mana shortly after waking up. The second week passed even slower than the first. Percy¡¯s butt was hurting from sitting all day, and the hut started feeling like a tiny hut at this point. He felt like roaring at the top of his lungs, charging out of the settlement to scan every grass blade for the slaver¡¯s trails. But he didn¡¯t follow his desires. He suppressed the unbearable boredom and exhaustion of doing nothing and continued waiting. I sure hope the others are having more fun than me. Maybe they found me and ignored the settlements¡­or the trap was even more obvious than expected. It was a rather obvious trap from the beginning, but to do nothing for two weeks¡­Are they more patient than I gave to them? Percy ruffled through his hair, more doubts taking root in his mind, corrupting it as the days passed. The Beastmen continued ignoring him as if he didn¡¯t exist, whereas the elderly Rabbitman treated him as some sort of sacred guardian. He ignored Percy most of the time but cast revering gazes in his direction. That was even more confusing and the reason Percy started doubting everything. There was no one to talk to other than Blue, who was having the time of his life while trying to stay as lowkey as possible, which deteriorated his mental well-being much faster than he had been hoping for. On the 23rd day since his arrival, it finally happened. The last rays of the sun were about to disappear beyond the horizon when screams reverberated through the settlements. Percy shouldn¡¯t have been happy to hear the desperate screams, but the corners of his lips tilted into a vibrant smile as he jumped up from the mattress. The Rabbitman had gotten up from his chair at the screams, but he was even more startled when Percy pulled a black sword out of the mark of his right hand. The devilish grimace on the sacred guardian¡¯s face shattered the Rabbitman¡¯s initial impression of the young man, but Percy didn¡¯t pay any attention to the old Beastman. He manifested Dragonscale instantaneously and charged out of the hut with [Silent Reaper] still active. However, he no longer restrained his mana use and activated [Hawk Eyes] at full power. He leaped on a thatch roof, his head perking left and right while Blue returned to lock onto the silhouettes in the settlements. Percy received a few images from Blue, who looked like a small shooting star in the approaching night, but he also saw the silhouettes. The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there. Ten-plus figures wearing cloaks and masks. This is way too familiar to be a coincidence. Percy cursed inwardly, his worst fear coming true. He knew who the slavers were, which was much worse than everything Percy had hoped for. Damnit! It was frustrating, but the only good thing was that Percy could make a move now. At last, he could do something. He summoned Hyean and ushered the Goblin Champion to protect the settlement while he rushed out of the settlement. The slavers¡¯ target hadn¡¯t been the Rabbit tribe but the nearby tribe of Lycanthropes. They weren¡¯t weak, but their warriors were deployed and served in the Beast Legions. Most of them, at least. Percy saw some elder Lycanthropes transform into massive wolves to fend off one, some even two, ¡®slavers¡¯ simultaneously, but it didn¡¯t work as intended. The small pack of elders would have been beaten and nearly killed if it hadn¡¯t been for a few younger Lycanthropes jumping into action. They were too weak to inflict damage, but the slavers didn¡¯t care. They saw the Gifted Lycanthropes, knocked them out with a swift move, and packed them up like a potato sac. Percy cursed and accelerated again. He circulated mana through his body while simultaneously commanding the Azure Dragon Essence within him to grant him some more power. His blood started boiling, and heat filled him up to the brim. The corner of his lips curled upward, and he appeared next to the closest slavers in an eye blink. Dragon Fang whizzed through the air in dead silence, decapitating the first slaver before the other noticed what was happening. He disappeared in the shadows and reappeared beside another slave, who lost his head a moment later. The next slaver noticed him, but Percy released a volley of half a dozen icicles, and the Syreablade whizzed through the air. The slaver blocked the Syreablade with his arm, which resulted in a booming sound of metal smashing onto the metal before the blade cut through the slaver¡¯s arm. A quarter of a second later, the icicles impacted, piercing his stomach, where the icicles exploded, releasing their freezing properties en masse. The slaver didn¡¯t even scream as he lost his arm, and he ignored the icicles piercing his stomach, but he groaned when the bottom of the Syreablade¡¯s handle smashed against his temples. Percy heard something crack, but he ignored it when the slaver collapsed. He turned again, looking for the other slavers, until Blue forwarded some images. Four slavers saw Percy and turned around to escape empty-handed, leaving their comrades behind. Percy could have felt pity for their comrades, but two of them were carrying unconscious children, whereas the last one carried a baby. He nearly didn¡¯t see the latter because he was already close to the forest, but Blue and the screaming mother showed him where he had to go. Percy kicked the ground as hard as he could and dashed forward. His body leaned forward, and it didn¡¯t take long for him to reach top speed. In fact, Percy crossed his top speed at some point. [Master of the Blade] was triggered when he passed by the pair of slavers kidnapping the unconscious children, yet he didn¡¯t kill them. He severed their legs instead, protecting the unconscious children from getting poked by Dragon Fang, whereas [Berserk] activated without Percy¡¯s conscious command when he appeared behind the slaver, who¡¯d captured the baby. The baby was still conscious and crying its heart out, fueling Percy¡¯s heart with hatred. Dragon Fang burst through the back of the slaver¡¯s neck without hesitation. His move was precise and decisive. He killed the slaver on the spot ¨C the disgusting bastard collapsed to the ground ¨C, before catching the baby. Blood spurted in all directions, and both Percy and the baby were splattered in warm blood, but the baby Lycanthrope stopped crying the moment Percy held him in his arms. The Syreablade transformed into a black wisp and disappeared before the blade could cut the infant, and a sigh of relief escaped Percy¡¯s lips. He looked at the infant, who giggled before returning Percy¡¯s gaze. I should look even scarier than ¡®them.¡¯ I am covered in blood, you know?! Percy muttered inwardly, but the infant behaved as if it could hear him and raised its arms, trying to reach for Percy¡¯s face. ¡°Fearless little brat,¡± Percy chuckled as the effect of [Berserk] subsided. Rationality returned to his mind, and he looked around. He didn¡¯t kill all the masked men, but that wasn¡¯t their plan in the first place. Blue followed the escapees while the severely wounded slavers were tended to and healed until they were ready for a thorough investigation. Though, Percy was already fairly sure he knew what awaited them. His Ego only confirmed what he¡¯d been the most afraid of. [Frederik Kalista(Elite-9) ¨C Demonic Gifted ¨C 501,926 Prosperity] That was a lot more Prosperity than expected. Then again, the Demonic Gifted possessed the Devil¡¯s power or the power of a powerful Demon. But none of that mattered at this moment. Only one thing was important. The ¡®slavers¡¯ didn¡¯t belong to the Kainesh Kingdom. They were Demonic Gifted. All of them! B3 Chapter 31 - Interrogation ¡°You are telling me these slavers aren¡¯t actually slavers, but Demonic Gifted?¡± The Beast King asked, bent down to inspect some of the headless corpses. Their heads had been collected and spread out in one row, but the Beast King paid more heed to the rest of their bodies. His mana surged forth and entered the corpses. ¡°Demonic Essence¡­¡± He murmured, fury blossoming in his heart. ¡°Demonic Gifted also possess mana, but it is stronger than the average mana, which they possessed before. That is owed to the Demonic Essence they gained from the Devil or a powerful Demon, altering their mana sequence. Now we know why we found so many similar mana sequences in the settlements.¡± Percy explained to the Beast King, who was probably fully aware of the situation. It was already early in the morning, the first rays of sunlight basking in the Beastlands, when the Beast Legion and royal envoy arrived at the Lycanthrope¡¯s settlement. The Beast King arrived much earlier but had been busy roaming the borders, hoping to locate the Demonic Gifted. He was furious when he returned empty-handed. They turned to the severely wounded Demonic Gifted in unison, whom Fiona tended to. Healing Star was not as effective on Demonic Gifted, but the Ego was still strong enough to rescue them. They won¡¯t stay alive for long either way as long as they survive the interrogation. The Beast King rumbled, his blazing mane erupting in fury. He stepped closer, his claws raised as if preparing to strike the Demonic Gifted in a fit of rage when one of the younger nobles stepped forward. He wasn¡¯t a combatant, and his Ego couldn¡¯t be used for fighting, which was why he joined the royal envoy. The mission his father had given to him might have been to establish trading routes with Beastmen, which would fill the young noble¡¯s father with pride, but also to support the crown prince in his ordeal to safeguard the peace between Beastlands and Kainesh Kingdom. ¡°M-my Ego¡­My Ego might help us procure some useful information from the Demonic Gifted,¡± He muttered barely loud enough for the Beast King to hear. The Beast King turned, his eyes drilling into the skinny youth. ¡°He is right. If you kill the Demonic Gifted now, we might never be able to rescue the other Beastmen they¡¯ve kidnapped,¡± Percy jumped to the noble¡¯s aid, though he was fairly certain the Beastmen were dead already. If the kidnappers had been your average slaver, the children would still be alive. They might have been sold all across the Kainesh Kingdom, where horrible humans would have kept them hidden from the authorities, but Percy would have had a much easier time rescuing them. But now? Now¡­Percy didn¡¯t know. Demonic Gifted were unlikely to act like the average slaver. The children were probably dead. Still, there was a glimmer of hope in the Beast King¡¯s eyes. He suppressed the fury raging within him and made space for the young noble, who activated his Ego, called [Truth], and got to work. ¡°They¡¯re awake,¡± Fiona coldly told the young noble, ¡°These traitors are only acting like they¡¯re still unconscious.¡± The coldness in Fiona¡¯s voice surprised Percy. He studied her for a while and noticed the disgust hidden underneath her poker face whenever she looked in the Demonic Gifted¡¯s direction. I¡¯m also disgusted with how someone can side with the Seven Hells, but I don¡¯t think I look like Fiona. The Demonic Gifted opened their eyes simultaneously after Fiona exposed them. They spat in her direction, but Fiona stepped back to evade it. ¡°You disgusting¡ª...¡± One of them shouted, but the trembling noble appeared before him, his glowing finger pressing against his forehead. The noble quickly backpedaled after leaving a shimmering fingerprint on the Demonic Gifted¡¯s forehead. ¡°What have you done? Take it away! I don¡¯t like strangers touching me¨C...¡± The Demonic Gifted shut his mouth without anyone doing anything. All the trembling noble did was to keep his Ego active. ¡°What is your name, and when did you abandon mankind to join the Seven Hells?¡± The trembling noble asked once he¡¯d gathered enough courage to speak up. The Demonic Gifted didn¡¯t say anything at first, but the longer he remained silent, the brighter the shimmering fingerprint on his forehead glowed. The intensity increased with every second, inflicting tremendous pain on the traitor. He started screaming and writhed on the ground, trying to escape the chains of a Beastmen¡¯s Ego. Percy¡¯s eyes narrowed as the Demonic Gifted didn¡¯t answer for almost ten seconds until blood trickled from his nose. ¡°Jakob Keave!!!¡± He screamed in pain, ¡°One cycle and four moons!!¡± The fingerprint on the forehead dimmed, and the Demonic Gifted stopped writhing in pain.The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°Did you gain power from the Devil or a powerful Demon?¡± The noble asked. He wasn¡¯t trembling anymore and looked straight at the Demonic Gifted. It only took three seconds this time before the Demonic Gifted felt a pang. He winced and answered. ¡°I have a pact with a Demon!!¡± His resistance shattered quite easily. That was surprising but a pleasant one. ¡°How many Demonic Gifted have been attacking the Beastlands?¡± ¡°We¡­are less than forty¡­¡± ¡°Are there only Demonic Gifted, or are there also Demons?¡± ¡°There are Demons.¡± ¡°How many are there? How strong are they?¡± The Demonic Gifted resisted again. He pressed his lips tightly together and tried enduring the assault of painful mental shocks, but it was to no avail. Ten seconds of silence passed until more blood trickled down his nose. Droplets of blood poured out of his eyes, and it threatened to worsen, but the Gifted was already answering. ¡°We are many. They¡¯re stronger than your people. It won¡¯t be long before my Master can defeat you!!¡± He roared in the Beast King¡¯s direction. Percy didn¡¯t know the exact conditions of the Truth Ego, but the choice of words seemed important. ¡°Your Master is the Demon who has signed a pact with you, right? This is a yes or no question!¡± Percy asked, but the Demonic Gifted ignored him. The young noble repeated his question. Only then did they receive an answer. ¡°Yes.¡± Percy and the others looked at each other. ¡°Our king is an Exalted,¡± One of the Beastmen murmured, confirming Percy¡¯s suspicion. He looked at the Beastmen and diverted his attention to the Beast King a moment later, ¡°That means there is a Demon at the Ascended Tier.¡± The Beast King nodded slowly, ¡°Most likely at the Peak of the Ascended Tier.¡± The strongest Demons we¡¯ve encountered were three Greater Demons. They weren¡¯t even at full power at that time. But even then¡­the strongest Greater Demons might be strong enough to reach the Ascended rank. Even then, they can reach the lower brackets at most. ¡°Where are you and your disgusting comrades hiding?¡± The Beast King stomped toward the Demonic Gifted, ¡°What did you do to my people? What are you planning?!?¡± A deep growl escaped the Beast King¡¯s lips, but the Demonic Gifted didn¡¯t answer once again. Instead, he responded with a smile and chuckled. Finally, the Demonic Gifted turned to the young noble, who repeated the Beast King¡¯s question. Not even a quarter of a second passed after the question was finished when a wave of blood burst from the Demonic Gifted¡¯s eyes and nose. The Demonic Gifted trembled in unbearable pain, but his devilish smile didn¡¯t cease. ¡°I didn¡¯t do anything to your people, but I cannot say the same for my Master. He said they were tasty. Not as tasty as humans, of course. Their Essence is too pure, void of sins, to be a delicacy. But that¡¯s why it was even funnier to see them change.¡± The Demonic Gifted didn¡¯t answer all questions, but it didn¡¯t look like he would tell them anything else. His eyes rolled up, and blood gushed out of his ears and mouth. Percy¡¯s eyes narrowed as he saw something, and he reacted swiftly, instinctively conjuring a ball of ice around the Demonic Gifted¡¯s head. A moment later, the Gifted¡¯s head exploded, the ball of ice protecting everyone from splashes of skull fragments and bits and pieces of the Gifted¡¯s brain. Still, the young noble, who¡¯d just gained some confidence to ask a few more questions, couldn¡¯t handle the gory sight unfolding before him. He collapsed moments after the Demonic Gifted¡¯s head exploded. That guy isn¡¯t made for the battlefield if he cannot handle an exploding head. Then again, he doesn¡¯t have to be. Not everyone has to be a fighter. His Ego isn¡¯t too bad. He is the perfect investigator. All he needs is a backbone. He cannot collapse like that during an investigation¡­ Apparently, the Beast King had the same opinion. That was understandable. The situation was not in his favor, and he just found out that his young subjects hadn¡¯t been kidnapped, but that they were dead, sacrificed to the Demonic Gifted¡¯s Master¡­or worse¡­ He growled deeply, picked the young noble from the ground, and shook him awake with a massive flood of mana. The young noble screamed at the top of his lungs, his eyes shooting wide open in terror. ¡°Ask this bastard where they¡¯re hiding, what they did to the children, and what their plan is. NOW!¡± The noble activated his Ego again, but something changed before he could apply the shimmering fingerprint on the Demonic Gifted¡¯s forehead. The Gifted¡¯s eyes turned crimson, his skin darkened, and a small, pitch-black horn grew from his forehead. He laughed as the noble retreated quickly. His face distorted slowly, changing features while studying the people standing before him one by one. The Gifted stopped only when he found Percy, the corners of his lips curling upward in pure excitement. ¡°You¡¯re growing well,¡± The Demonic Gifted said, but there was an echo of multiple voices overlapping as he spoke. Percy shuddered, instinctively recognizing the voice. The Devil¡­ He took a deep breath while his mind went blank. At the same time, the head of the Demonic Gifted was flooded with Demonic Essence. It was too much for a mere Peak Elite to handle and also threatened to explode. The Beast King growled in anger, ¡°You are the root of all problems!¡± A moment later, he released his fiery flame and shot forward, his clenched fist wreathed in black flames, smashing into the Demonic Gifted¡¯s face, burning the traitor to ashes before he could say anything else. B3 Chapter 32 - Lair The ashes of the Demonic Gifted stirred up and dispersed in all directions as a breeze brushed past them. ¡°I couldn¡¯t hold back,¡± The Beast King murmured, but more to himself than the others, ¡°That was the Devil you mentioned earlier, wasn¡¯t it?¡± Percy confirmed with a slow nod, engraving the Beast King, ¡°I will kill that bastard.¡± You can queue up for that. I want to get a piece of that bastard as well. But you can weaken him first since you are a ¡®little¡¯ bit stronger than I am. That¡¯s no problem. Weaken him while I deal the finishing blow. The Beast King glanced at Percy, trying hard to contain his fury, ¡°I sure hope your plan worked out because this step failed miserably.¡± Percy¡¯s eyebrows arched. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t call this a miserable failure. We know now that the Devil is not yet in the mortal realm and that he¡¯s watching everything. That means we have to move fast because he¡¯s probably relaying what happened to his other subjects. We may not know for sure where they¡¯re hiding, but they will make a move soon. That means we also have to make a move.¡± As the words escaped Percy¡¯s lips, he received a bunch of images from Blue. The escapees of the night¡¯s attack didn¡¯t return to their final destination in a straight line. They feared someone was following them and spent the whole night on a detour. Unfortunately, they didn¡¯t take into consideration that someone ¨C Blue, the Glacial Roc ¨C with an Augmentation that allows them to see mana pursued them. The escapees used various methods to turn invisible in the night''s darkness and cover their scent, footprints, and vibrations. To their misfortune, most methods required Demonic Essence, or mana, to be unleashed. Blue could see both with clarity. Pinpointing the mana sequences through the canopy of the mana-infused forest was more difficult. Still, the escapees made it easy to pursue them as traces of Demonic Essence emanated from their bodies whenever they refreshed their invisibility. ¡°Blue found their location,¡± Percy said when he reached the last few images. The Glacial Roc circled above an empty clearing where the Demonic Gifted had vanished. They were invisible when they truly disappeared from [Hawk Eyes]. ¡°He detected some sort of magical barrier covering a small clearing. It¡¯s invisible and barely noticeable, but Blue reassures me they disappeared inside it. I have to see it to say more, but I think¡­¡± Percy glanced at the Beast King, ¡°We got them.¡± ¡°So¡­these Demonic Gifted never left the Beastlands. They were always there, but we were too stupid to find them. We¡­should have found them,¡± The Beast King winced, his expression distorting in sadness and frustration. He felt a pang of guilt and clenched his fists tightly until his claws dug deep into his palms. Blame yourself for the death of your kin all you want, but one thing is certain. You are not at fault. The Devil and his Demons are the root of all evil! Percy would have loved to speak his thoughts aloud, only to hold back at the last moment. He could console the Beast King later. For now, the rage sweeping through the Beast King¡¯s body was exactly what they needed. ¡°We found them. That is all that matters now,¡± Percy said instead, earning him several glares from the people around him. But Percy didn¡¯t care. It was time to team up against the Demons! *** Their departure wasn¡¯t postponed by a minute. The Beast King urged the Beast Legion to move, and they departed within ten minutes. Percy consumed the Demonic Gifted corpses since the Beast King didn¡¯t want to see them anymore. He left only one of the corpses untouched, stored in his spatial storage since the royal family would want hard evidence alongside the report. As he consumed the corpses, Percy noted the names of all traitors to forward their betrayal to the crown once all problems had been resolved. Once Percy was done, the Beast King grasped and hurled him into the air. Percy couldn¡¯t even say anything before the Beast King followed behind in his beast shape. This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. ¡°Hold tightly!¡± The Beast King roared in Percy¡¯s head, which he responded by reaching into the Beast King¡¯s fur as the winged lion flew past him. Percy struggled a little, nearly falling to the ground, but his hands dug deep into the king¡¯s fur. He found a seat on the Beast King¡¯s back and shot to the border. ¡°Point out the direction,¡± The Beast King commanded. ¡°It¡¯s near the border. Blue feels some sort of strong repelling force, but he tries to stay nearby. It¡¯s probably part of the magical barrier,¡± Percy responded, unsure if the Beast King could hear him as strong gales splashed into his face. He lowered his head and pressed his body tightly against the lion¡¯s back. His eyes closed tightly for a moment, focusing on the Glacial Roc. The urge to turn around and forget about this place is very strong. If I hadn¡¯t told Blue to stay nearby every minute, he would have turned around and forgotten everything. Is that what happened to the trackers? But what about the Beast King, then? Did he not sense the repelling force? Maybe he is too strong to notice it¡­but unable to see the magical barrier¡­really? No. It made sense. The Beast King might be powerful, but that didn¡¯t mean his mana senses were exceptional. The Beast King was more of a physical monstrosity. His only magical talent might be the flames, which are innate to his kin. He would have sensed the subtle differences in the mana sequences if his mana sensory abilities were as exceptional as his physical prowess. Not even 20 minutes passed before his bond to the Glacial Roc grew stronger. They were nearby. ¡°Slow down and descend. Control your emotions, and seal your mana. Don¡¯t give me attitude now, Your Highness. We don¡¯t want to warn them, do we?!¡± Percy didn¡¯t know what was going on in the Beast King¡¯s mind, but he could tell that the king of the Beastlands was angry. Very angry. ¡°The Legion and my envoy won¡¯t arrive anytime soon. I will send Blue back to bring them to us. We won¡¯t attack either. Instead, we will study the magical barrier, find out what is going on, and make sure nobody can run away.¡± Percy devised a plan on the spot, but the Beast King only grunted. Get your act together, please! ¡°The Demonic Gifted spoke about a Master. It has to be a Demon Lord at the Ascended rank. I know you are powerful, but we don¡¯t know how many Demon Lords there are. We saw three different types of mana sequences¡­you remember that, right?¡± Percy waited for a second, giving the Beast King enough time to digest the information he had forgotten in a fury. ¡°Either the Demon Lord altered them with three different types of powers, which means the Demon Lord is stronger than the norm, or there are three Demon Lords!¡± It¡¯s also possible for Greater Demons on the verge of evolving into Demon Lords to create and control Demonic Gifted, but the Beast King doesn¡¯t have to know that. The Beast King should already be aware of that, but Percy only revealed the pieces of information that would convince him to get his act together. Fortunately, it worked out, and the Beast King descended. He transformed back into his humanoid form and glared at Percy. ¡°You are annoying,¡± The Beast King growled. Percy shrugged, ¡°But am I wrong? We don¡¯t know how many enemies there are. Maybe you could kill the three Demon Lords, but what if there are dozens of Greater Demons, hundreds of Elite Demons, and dozens of powerful Demonic Gifted? Do you want all of them to escape while you are busy dealing with the Demon Lords, or do you think I can handle everything alone? I might be strong, but don¡¯t think I can eliminate a dozen Greater Demons while hundreds of Elite Demons attack me.¡± The Beast King was still not satisfied, but he swallowed his pride. ¡°Whatever,¡± he grunted. What can you see there? I can sense the mana in the surroundings, but it doesn¡¯t feel any different in the clearing. Everything is the same.¡± The Beast King focused on the clearing. It was empty, but that wasn¡¯t an oddity. ¡°You can tell me,¡± Percy responded, ¡°where all the monsters and animals are. I cannot hear anything.¡± The Beast King listened and listened, and furrowed his eyebrows. He channeled mana through his ears, his hair standing up to its end, ¡°There is no monster in the proximity. Nothing. It¡¯s almost like the forest is dead here. Even the plants have gone silent.¡± Percy nodded, his face drained of all color when he saw something with [Hawk Eyes]. The magical barrier appeared before his eyes. It was a semi-translucent barrier, and Percy could see through it with [Hawk Eyes] activated and supplied with his purest mana. ¡°There is a massive cave guarded by Grand Hellhounds,¡± Percy looked at the Beast King, ¡°Is there a cave on your map?¡± The Beast King didn¡¯t have to retrieve Beastlands¡¯ map to shake his head. He knew his land better than anyone. ¡°There shouldn¡¯t have been.¡± ¡°That¡¯s what I guessed,¡± Percy mumbled, ¡°We found our Demon Lord¡¯s Lair!¡± B3 Chapter 33 - Enter Percy wasn¡¯t impressed by the cave. Its entrance was rather large, with a height of five meters and a width nearing ten meters, but that was about all that could be considered extraordinary. Otherwise, it appeared to be an average cave. ¡°Is that all you can tell me? Give me some more intel, kid!¡± Percy frowned. There was little more to tell, ¡°I can only see two Grand Hellhounds. That¡¯s it. The Demons are in the cave, which means your Beastmen are also inside.¡± ¡°The Beast Legion cannot charge inside simultaneously, and we will have a hard time using some abilities if we don¡¯t want to destroy the cavern system,¡± The Beast King grumbled. He was still enraged, but the rational part of his mind was slowly taking over, ¡°My Purgatory Fire will cause too much damage, and so will fighting the Demon Lord ¨C or Lords ¨C with full power.¡± He looked at Percy, ¡°Your people and mine will deal with the Lesser Demons and the Elites, but the Beast Legion will have difficulties dealing with creatures like Grand Hellhounds. I hate to acknowledge this, but there is no other way¡­¡± The Seventh Beast Legion wasn¡¯t the strongest by any means, but most war veterans were members of the Seventh Legion. That should account for something, even if it wasn¡¯t enough to throw them against masses of Greater Demons. ¡°You want me to fight the Greater Demons?¡± Percy asked in a neutral tone, which surprised the Beast King. He learned much about the Kainesh Kingdom¡¯s crown prince in the last few days and understood that he was honest, loyal, and quite powerful. The Beast King recalled how his body had instinctively reacted, pushing him into a defensive stance, when Percy attacked him with full power. Still, he didn¡¯t expect the crown prince to be so calm about such a task. Was this bravery or stupidity? ¡°Do you think you can handle it?¡± ¡°I will probably die,¡± Percy responded as nonchalant as before, ¡°But with Fiona healing me, I should have no problem handling one or two Greater Demons with average combat prowess. If I drench them in my blood, it should be possible.¡± ¡°Your blood?¡± ¡°Yes, I awakened the Azure Dragon¡¯s bloodline not too long ago. It seems like my blood is either too potent for them or that it¡¯s like acid to them. I¡¯m not sure yet. It hasn¡¯t been long since I found out about it.¡± The Beast King studied him for a while but shook his head as if dismissing the ideas popping in his mind. ¡°The Azure Dragon¡¯s Essence is powerful, and it should already be surprising that you are alive and well. Unfortunately, that doesn¡¯t help us. Can the other members of your envoy empower you somehow? Maybe they have an Ego or Augmentations to strengthen you. If not, I can order some Beastmen to follow you and enhance your Agility and Durability. The seventh Legion is not the strongest, but they have some feisty powers.¡± Percy tilted his head. If some Beastmen were to follow him, they would have to focus on enhancing him while surviving against Greater Demons in narrow tunnels. Of course, there might be large halls underground, but Percy expected the worst while hoping for the best. ¡°Do you have something valuable?¡± Percy asked, an idea popping into his mind. If everyone surrenders their corpses while fighting, I can earn some Prosperity to use. That is great¡­but probably not enough. Or is it? Percy closed his eyes briefly to check where the Glacial Roc was and was pleasantly surprised when he saw himself through Blue¡¯s eyes. The Beast Legion and the royal envoy would arrive soon. ¡°Something valuable?¡± The Beast King narrowed his eyes. ¡°You saw me consume the Demonic Gifted¡¯s corpses,¡± Percy responded as if that was all that had to be said. ¡°...¡± The Beast King didn¡¯t take the hint. He is very fortunate to be powerful. Even I wasn¡¯t that bad a year ago¡­I hope¡­ ¡°That was your Ego,¡± the Beast King realized. You are growing stronger through consumption.¡±Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. Finally! Percy nodded, ¡°The more I consume, the more my Ego progresses. The more valuable, the better. That¡¯s why you must surrender your ownership to the Demons you defeat on your way to the Demon Lord. I can consume them and turn them into power.¡± ¡°That¡¯s great and all, but I don¡¯t have anything I can spare with me. I don¡¯t carry spatial storages with me. My whole body is a weapon. I do not have to bring anything else.¡± Good thing I exposed my Ego¡¯s secret for nothing. ¡°But I can kill the Grand Hellhounds for you. Once the Beast Legion and your envoy is present, they will discover us, either way,¡± The Beast King offered, his eyes narrowing to slits when he saw something behind Percy. ¡°You forgot to tell me our people are coming, didn¡¯t you?¡± Percy pressed his lips together, ¡°I¡­was just about to tell you.¡± The Beast King raised an eyebrow before turning to the clearing. He strode forward, leaving the range of Percy¡¯s [Silent Reaper]. Percy saw the Grand Hellhounds sniff in the air from the corner of his eyes. Their heads flicked around before the Beast King transformed into a black flash. His entire body was wreathed in blazing flames as he burst through the magical barrier, but the chaos didn¡¯t end there. The Purgatory Fire connected to the magical barrier and expanded rapidly. The translucent barrier trembled and wiggled as if discomforted as the blazing flames spread out. The Purgatory Fire damaged the magical barrier greatly when the Beast King barged through it, but the expanding flames were the finishing blow, destroying the barrier. The invisibility and the repelling force were no more, and it only took another minute before the envoy riding their summoned mounts reached him. Blue cooed as he landed before Percy, but the Glacial Roc¡¯s mission was unfinished. ¡°You need to return to check the surroundings. We don¡¯t want any Demons to escape, right?¡± Percy patted the Glacial Roc¡¯s ice feathers, picked his friend up, and helped him back into the sky. A moment later, he turned to the envoy and Apex Dex. ¡°We aren¡¯t certain what awaits us in the Demon¡¯s lair, but we are ¨C I am ¨C certain there is at least one Demon Lord in the lair. This is an emergency and nothing to take lightly. The cavern tunnels will be narrow in certain areas, and the tunnels may collapse when we apply too much force,¡± Percy took a deep breath, granting everyone a second to digest what was happening. ¡°The Beast King will deal with the Demon Lord, or Lords if there are multiple, but he cannot promise our well-being. If the tunnels collapse, we will be on our own. Everyone willing to charge into the Demons¡¯ Lair should remember two things. First, we are allies and must work together to minimize the casualties. Our main mission is to rescue as many children as possible and to survive. Defeating the Demons is not more important than our health.¡± ¡°Second, you must surrender your rights to the Demons you¡¯ll kill. I need to consume them to grow stronger mid-battle, which I can do with my Ego,¡± He sighed deeply, ¡°Because I am fairly sure there will be a bunch of Greater Demons. Two Grand Hellhounds are guarding¡­have been guarding¡­the lair¡¯s entrance, and they won¡¯t be the last ones. I will fight the Greater Demons, so focus on the Elites and Lesser Demons!¡± Percy could say a lot more, but there was no time. The Beast King had already taken care of the two Grand Hellhounds, tearing their heads apart. They must have attempted to burn the Beast King alive, given the orange-burning grass behind him, but it didn¡¯t harm him. The Beast King¡¯s natural resistance to fire was greater than the Grand Hellhounds¡¯ hellfire. Percy rushed to the cavern entrance, where two interfaces appeared before him. He glanced at them and smiled. [Grand Hellhound ¨C Demonic ¨C 3,235,355 Prosperity] [Grand Hellhound ¨C Demonic ¨C 2,812,035 Prosperity] There was no hesitation in his next move. [Consume] was activated, and the Abomination burst out of his palms. At the same time, Percy retrieved the Syreablade, preparing for what awaited them next. The crimson lines on the Syreablade pulsed wildly while the corners of Percy¡¯s lips curled upward. More than six million Prosperity were added to his balance, and he was certain this would be only a small portion of the fortune he would earn today. Still, not everything was great. The kidnapped children were probably dead. Hopefully, they were dead. Percy did not want to imagine what had happened to the children or how much they had gone through if they were still alive. He didn¡¯t wish to imagine what could have happened to them, but like always¡­reality was worse. They were just about to barge inside the cavern when Percy and the Beast King discovered something near the end of the tunnel leading downward. A Beastman with pitch-black eyes, purple hide, and massive blade-like claws emerged from the deeper tunnels. ¡°Pain¡­¡± It growled, its voice battered and broken, ¡°Blood¡­¡± The Beastman turned in their direction, revealing its razor-sharp teeth as it flashed a vibrant smile. ¡°Death!!¡± A moment later, the Beastman charged at its king. Yet, the Beast King did nothing. He stood there, staring blankly at the Beastman. No. At what this creature had once been. B3 Chapter 34 - Lurking What did they do to the Beastmen? Percy¡¯s mind was wiped clean at the sight of the ¡®evil¡¯ Beastman. The Beastman didn¡¯t look like a child anymore, but the stretch marks all over its body indicated something Percy didn¡¯t want to consider. His eyes narrowed to tiny slits as the Beastman arrived before the Beast King, who was still unmoving like a deep-rooted tree. He won¡¯t do anything. His mind is blank. Percy realized, sadness washing over him. He moved instinctively, circulating mana through his body to appear beside the demonified Beastman a moment later. The smell of a Demon entered Percy¡¯s nostrils, and traces of Demonic Essence glimmered within the Beastman as he lifted Dragon Fang. ¡°Stop!¡± The Beast King rumbled, his hands shooting toward Percy to stop him. However, it was already too late. Percy swung Dragon Fang at the demonified Beastman, striking his neck with a clean hit of the Syreablade¡¯s dull backside. The Beastman¡¯s eerily dark eyes rolled back, and he collapsed. Percy pulled Dragon Fang back with a slight nod toward the Beast King. ¡°Did you think I would kill him?¡± He asked the Beast King, ¡°We can knock them out and figure out if we can rescue them later. But let me be clear about something.¡± Percy¡¯s eyes turned cold, ¡°You and your people better knock them out quickly. If they endanger my people¡¯s lives, I will prioritize my people over these demonified creatures. You better not sacrifice your people either.¡± The Beast King¡¯s hands were still stretched as if trying to grasp Percy, but his expression had changed. He hesitated. Since when did he start hesitating? He was the Beast King. The ruler of the Beastlands. ¡°Are you ready? Because there seem to be lots of Demons waiting for us,¡± Percy pointed with the tip of Dragon Fang to the cavern tunnel, leading them into the depths of the liar. A group of Minos appeared in the cavern tunnel, and the Beast King sighted in relief. He¡¯d clearly expected to encounter more demonified Beastmen. If my guess is right¡­there will be many more infected Beastmen in this cave. A batch of icicles whizzed past Percy and the Beast King, cleanly hitting the Minos in the center of their eyes and killing them on the spot. ¡°Can we go on, please? We don¡¯t know if this is the only entrance to the Demon Lair, and I¡¯m fairly sure nobody wants any demons to escape today, or do we?¡± Melissa asked from behind, stepping forward to overtake Percy and the Beast King. She looked scornfully at the Beast King, a trace of disgust ¨C or was it disappointment ¨C flickering in her eyes. Percy nodded and walked ahead, circulating mana through his body at all times to be ready for whatever was about to happen. A grumbling escaped from behind them, and a flood of mana passed by them a moment later when the Beast King strode past them. He wasn¡¯t running, but his fast strides, filled with fury aimed at himself and the Demons, were enough to tell what would happen. Percy and Melissa glanced at each other, the corners of their lips curling upward. The Demon Lord had to prepare for a feisty battle because the Beast King was ready to give his all to clear up today¡¯s humiliation and to get his people back, no matter what had happened to them. Percy accelerated a little and used [Consume] to devour the Minos'' carcasses as they passed them. A moment later, they entered the Demon Lair for good. A waft of blood, death, and a wide variety of unpleasant smells filled the air as they walked deeper into the cavern network, but they tried ignoring it as well as possible. Some Beastmen and nobles following them retched and gagged at the flood of nauseating smells, yet they continued.The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. Percy didn¡¯t look back to check out how many Beastmen and members of the envoy were following them. The footsteps resounding through the hall told him enough. It didn¡¯t take long until they found more Demons. The Beast King was long since out of their sight, leaving behind a path of death and destruction. ¡°He didn¡¯t burn them to ashes,¡± Melissa mumbled, to which Percy responded with a nod. I told him about my Ego and explained why I needed him to forfeit his right to the corpses to grow strong enough to deal with Greater Demons.¡± Melissa looked at Percy but didn¡¯t say anything as he let the Abomination loose to consume the Demon bodies. They found an unconscious Beastman mixed into the corpses. The demonified Beastman wasn¡¯t dead, but his condition wasn¡¯t good either. ¡°I...don¡¯t know if I should be glad that they¡¯re still alive or if I should grieve their misfortune,¡± Melissa mumbled to herself. Percy felt the same, ¡°I was hoping they would be dead after I found out that there had never been slavers.¡± Death was a cruel fate to children; there was no doubt about that, but the torture they had gone through and the pain these young creatures felt had to be much worse. Percy couldn¡¯t tell if they were beyond salvation, yet he was certain the demonified Beastman would never be the same, whether they could be saved ¨C cleansed of the Demonic Essence ¨C or not. A few minutes into their descent, they reached a fork. The cavern tunnel split into three. Two tunnels had narrow entrances, while the third, chosen by the Beast King, was wide and high. The commotion coming from the wide tunnel was loud and terrifying. The walls shook, the Beast King¡¯s rage pushing him to unleash more strength than necessary. The walls must have been reinforced by mana. Demon Lairs are much more solid structures than I¡¯ve read in books. Then again, I never found a precedent with precise details of a Demon Lord¡¯s Lair. It should be strong enough to endure the pressure of a Lord¡¯s fight, right? Percy wasn¡¯t certain about that one, but it didn¡¯t matter. They were already in the lair and had a mission to complete. ¡°Do you want to take the left or the right one?¡± Melissa asked, but Percy pointed ahead. His eyes glowed vibrantly with his Augmentation unleashed to the fullest, and he saw what was hidden from the other¡¯s view. ¡°Prepare for battle. The Beast King didn¡¯t kill everything,¡± He said, focusing on [Master of the Blade] and [Dragonblood] while pushing ahead. Suddenly, the shadows in the wide tunnel flickered and moved. A wave of Demonic Essence washed over him, and he flicked around, ready to block the deadly blow, when he heard an ear-deafening scream from the back within the Beast Legion¡¯s rows. ¡°A Mutant Pleacis,¡± Melissa gasped, her head flicking to Percy, ¡°Just like the one we¡¯ve encountered in the Meiso Plains.¡± Percy¡¯s eyes narrowed to tiny slits, and a bead of sweat poured down his temples as the Pleacis drove his bladed arms into one of the Beastman. The war veteran was prepared for a battle, yet the sudden appearance of a Mutant Elite Demon before his eyes took him by surprise. He tried twisting his body to escape the initial attack, but the bladed arms pierced cleanly through his chest, killing the Beastman on the spot. ¡°Multiple Mutants are lurking in the shadows!!¡± Percy screamed, the shadows flickering wildly as if enraged that they had been exposed. He was ready to move ahead and join the envoy and Beast Legion to devise a tactic to deal with the shadow-walking Pleacis when his hair stood up to its end. Fiona shouted something, her [Danger Sense] triggering, but Percy had already made a move. He¡¯d spread his mana into the surroundings in thin layers just like Fiona when he noticed the Demons walking through the shadows. He sensed the Demonic Essence gathering behind him and spun around. A massive creature with black hide, several dark-glowing horns jutting from the sides of its head, and a devious grin emerged behind him. It was three meters tall and had two-bladed arms and two arms with massive Warhammer heads at their ends. Percy instinctively activated [Berserk] as his eyes fell upon the void-like eyes of the Demon before him. He could recognize a threat when it appeared before him, after all. A proper Greater Demon. No. That is not just any Greater Demon. That¡¯s a Weaponmaster, a Thyrx, born with exceptional mastery of all weapons¡­yet it is stronger than the norm. It can step through shadows¡­ Percy sincerely hoped the Thyrx¡¯s mutation decreased its strength and speed in exchange for the shadow-walking ability. Either that was the case, as the Greater Demon¡¯s Demonic Essence reservoir would be split between augmenting its physical properties and the ability, OR its Demonis Essence reservoir expanded with the mutation, thus granting the Greater Demon the usual prowess of a Thyrx, alongside the power to step through shadows. Percy hoped for the former, but witnessing the Mutant Pleacis¡¯ powers was enough for doubts to creep up the back of his mind. Fortunately, he wasn¡¯t alone. A massive ice block crashed into the side of the Thyrx¡¯s head with a hefty crunch even before Percy and the Greater Demon could finish their show-off. The Thyrx¡¯s head whipped to the side, creating an opening for Percy. He grasped it and dashed forward, cracking the stone underfoot as he kicked it to appear before the Greater Demon. B3 Chapter 35 - Devils Touched The Thyrx didn¡¯t take long to regain balance, but that was enough to draw the Greater Demon¡¯s blood. Dragon Fang, infused with pure mana, severed the Greater Demon¡¯s left blade arm. The arm flung through the air, and blood spurted in all directions. Some dripped on Percy¡¯s face, but he ignored it as he advanced. The Greater Demon roared at the top of its lungs and thrust its remaining blade at him, but a pillar of ice burst out of the ground, slowing the attack. The blade arm pierced through the pillar, but it granted Percy the time he needed to pull back. If he had planned to do so, that is. The Warhammer arms smashed the pillar into smithereens before the Greater Demon used the remaining momentum to crush him. Percy, however, had predicted that movement. The circulation of Demonic Essence and the Thyrx¡¯s movements weren¡¯t easy to make out, but it was possible with [Hawk Eyes]. [Berserk] pushed his emotions to the brink of insanity, yet he didn¡¯t lose all rationality. Nonetheless, Percy pushed forward, whipping the Syreblade to sever another arm. Before the attack struck the Greater Demon, the Thyrx disappeared. The shadows rippled, and Percy spun around again, ¡°Be careful!¡± He shouted, his head flicking to Melissa. The Greater Demon appeared beside her, the Warhammer arms lifted to squash Melissa. Yet, instead of crushing Melissa, a white-plated monster smashed into the Thyrx. Its¡¯ horns passed through the first layer of defense and dug into the Greater Demon¡¯s flesh. ¡°Fiona!¡± Melissa exclaimed in relief as the Holy Triceratops pushed the Thyrx to the side. It wasn¡¯t perfect, but the attack was enough to protect Melissa from the worst. The Thyrx screamed, bringing the Warhammer arms down to the Holy Triceratops¡¯ head. [Circle of Protection] was active, but the Augmentation wasn¡¯t enough to protect the Holy Triceratops. [Circle of Protection] was shattered instantly as the Warhammer descended. An ear-deafening crunch rang out, and the Holy Triceratops collapsed. The summoned Monster wasn¡¯t dead yet, but the Thyrx¡¯s bladed arm shot forward to deal the finishing blow. Fiona paled as the Holy Triceratops¡¯ emotions flooded her. It felt like a punch in the gut, and a single tear trickled down her cheeks. ¡°No¡­.¡± She squealed, her legs trembling as she realized what would happen. Fiona¡¯s trusted summoned Monster was just about to be sacrificed instead of Melissa. One life for another. The bladed arm thrust forth, Demonic Essence accelerating the rapid attack, and was just about to drill into the Holy Triceratops¡¯ eye when a shield shrouded in pristine light appeared before the summoned Monster. The bladed arm impacted, yet it collided with the massive shield rather than ending the Holy Triceratops. It was Imperial Mathis, his Ego coating and enhancing his Shield Artifact. The impacting force was too great for him to handle. He was pushed back, shoved aside, and tripped over the Holy Triceratops¡¯ head. A moment later, he crashed to the ground beside the injured monster. Yet, the pristine light of [Purge] didn¡¯t follow Imperial Mathis. It detached from the Shield Artifact, which had been pierced despite its [Superior Guard], and [Perfect Resistance] runic enchantments, and attached to the Thyrx¡¯s bladed arm. The Thyrx screamed as the pristine light burst forth, coating its bladed arm. It was about to pull back when Percy arrived. His eyes were bloodshot, and uncontrollable anger fuelled him. The thought of losing Melissa and Fiona to the Thyrx affected him much more than expected. It was strong enough to cleanse his mind of all rationality. Dragon Fang arced through the air beautifully, creating sounds akin to a bard¡¯s song of an epic tale. It struck the Greater Demon a moment before it disappeared in the shadows. However, that moment was enough to cut through the remaining bladed arm halfway through the Greater Demon¡¯s Warhammer arm. The Greater Demon roared in rage and anger. It turned to the Beast Legion, ready to disappear and crush the weaker enemies, draining their power to grow and regenerate, but it froze in its tracks when its eyes fell upon Apex Dex. The Snakeman¡¯s serpentine eyes glowed brightly. Their color had changed to a vibrant yellow, blood trickling out of the corners. If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. The Thyrx trembled violently, but its rapid movements came to a halt. Not even the ability to travel through shadows seemed to work now. ¡°I took it by surprise. This won¡¯t last long!¡± Apex Dex hissed loudly after coughing up blood. The Snakeman swayed left and right and threatened to collapse on the spot, but Percy was already on the move. He crossed the remaining distance to the Greater Demon in an eye blink, grasped Dragon Fang tightly with both hands and attacked. The final attack was faster than normal. The Azure Dragon¡¯s Essence within him unleashed a primal roar, filling Percy with uncontrollable power. It lasted only a quarter of a second, but that was enough for Percy. The Syreablade reached the Thyrx¡¯s head and cleanly cleaved through it. To Percy, it felt like time slowed down as the black blade dug deep into the Greater Demon¡¯s neck, but it was too fast to perceive to everyone watching. The Thyrx¡¯s headless body moved in Apex Dex¡¯s direction, but it walked only one step before the legs caved in. It collapsed to the ground, and a notification popped up before him. [Thyrx (Greater Demon) ¨C Demonic/Devil¡¯s Touch ¨C 6,623,192 Prosperity] Percy¡¯s eyes narrowed as his eyes fell upon the interface, but he forced his mind to shove the questions popping in his mind aside. His head flicked to the Beast Legion, where the Mutant Pleacis had been, but there was no sight of another threat. The Mutant Pleacis had been killed, though not without killing nearly a dozen Beastmen. A sour taste filled his mouth when interfaces appeared above the Beastmen¡¯s bodies, and he nearly vomited on the ground when the Abomination of his Ego emanated from his palm. It squeezed through his palm and urged Percy to consume all dead creatures. It was attracted by the Demons, but the Abomination was crazy for the Beastmen. You obey me!! Percy willed the Abomination to heed his command, but the Abomination listened as little as it had when he fought the Adventurers in the forest near Raewood. The Abomination was about to escape his control¡­again. Either you listen to me now and for as long as I am alive, or I will starve you to death! I will never use you again, and we will both get killed together by the Devil! A searing pain manifested in the back of his head all of a sudden. It expanded and spread as if trying to engulf his brain and corrupt it. Percy would have been afraid if he had no idea what was happening, but he understood the situation well enough. He had thought about the Abomination long enough to understand what it was and how it came to be. It might be part of his Ego, but it was also much more than that. The Abomination was a fragment of the Devil. It was the Devil¡¯s Touch! I know you don¡¯t want to go back to the Devil. My Ego bound you to me. It altered you and granted you something akin to sentience. You aren¡¯t like the power the Thyrx and the Pleacis have gained. You are intelligent, to some extent, at least. And you know very well that I would rather die than allow you to take control of me. Percy took a deep breath while his legs turned soft. They were about to give in when the Abomination shot out of his palm. Yet, instead of devouring the corpses spread across the cavern tunnel, it turned to Percy. It revealed a dozen rows of razor-sharp teeth and hinted at a lung. However, the Abomination didn¡¯t go through. It didn¡¯t attack him. All it did was to threaten him. I know you cannot attack me. You are bound to the Ego ¨C My Ego ¨C and you cannot disobey it easily. You can only do what the Ego grants you the ability to. That¡¯s why you can devour the Beastmen, but you couldn¡¯t consume the demonified Beastman when they were merely unconscious. The restriction is also why you will never be able to hurt me directly. You can gather your power to disobey my command while still playing within the norms granted by the Coin of Prosperity, however, that is all you are capable of. Percy stared intently at the Abomination. Either you keep working with me, potentially to consume the Devil in the future, or I will never use you again. Go against my command and consume what you aren¡¯t allowed to consume, and we will never meet again. You will return to the Devil, who will strip you of all your power. You will be weak and useless¡­once again! The Abomination hissed, hinting at another attack, but realized it was useless. A few seconds of silence passed until it submitted to Percy¡¯s command. This time, wholeheartedly. B3 Chapter 36 - Split The Abomination still lusted after the dead Beastmen, but it didn¡¯t consume them. That would go against Percy¡¯s command, but the Abomination chose to obey¡ªto collaborate. ¡°My Ego tells me all Mutants have been inflicted by Devil¡¯s Touch,¡± Percy told the others after quickly consuming all bodies, earning him more than ten million Prosperity. His Tier surged, but he wasn¡¯t close to advancing yet. ¡°The Devil is getting more active,¡± Fiona mumbled. She was still pale from healing everyone in need of healing, but tending to her injured summoned Monster had been the hardest on her. Fiona had used her Ego too much in a short period, pushing her over the edge. She surpassed her limit and faced the consequences. ¡°Sent Fiona and everyone injured or scared witless back to the entrance. They can tend to the injured or the unconscious demonized Beastman or leave to spread the word of the Demons¡¯ appearance. There might not be another Beast Legion nearby, but you never know who you might find. Every bit of support can transform into a deciding factor between victory and defeat.¡± They studied Percy with arched eyebrows, but Fiona nodded slowly. She recognized how inefficient Demonic Essence surrounded her Ego. Healing Star may be powerful, but Fiona couldn¡¯t unleash its full potential underground and surrounded by Demonic Essence. The Holy Triceratops was also injured, mostly due to her order and the narrow space in the cavern tunnel. She was more baggage than support at this point. ¡°We¡¯ll create a small camp outside the lair, far enough to use Healing Star¡¯s full potential and flee in case you fail, which you won¡¯t, but close enough to care for everyone.¡± Percy nodded and turned around, his ears perking up as the Demons in the tunnels roared. Oddly enough, the widest tunnel was the loudest. The walls weren¡¯t trembling anymore, but the heat of the Beast King¡¯s Purgatory Fire had reached them by now. ¡°There seem to be a bunch of Demons waiting for us,¡± Percy smiled, heading for the widest tunnel with the most Demonic Essence. He didn¡¯t wait for anyone as he stepped inside. The widest cavern tunnel was illuminated by fiercely burning torches flickering in the darkness. They burned violet and altered the surrounding mana, transforming it into something heavier. The torches tainted mana, changing it into something impure and gloomy. Absorbing it was possible, but it would be a foolish idea as the altered mana would spread through the energy paths, releasing traces of the torches¡¯ properties in the paths before they would reach the mana reservoir. Percy couldn¡¯t tell everything about the torches from a mere glance, but he was certain the mana would also taint his pure mana reservoir. That was bad, but Percy didn¡¯t have a problem with it. He¡¯d prepared enough Ego-enhanced potions to consume. Many would replenish their used-up mana quickly. ¡°Nobody is to absorb mana in this place. Use potions if you¡¯re out of mana!¡± He ordered, yet nobody responded. However, Percy didn¡¯t look back. He sensed the tension in the air and understood how worried everyone must be. The situation was dangerous, to say the least. Enemies, Mutated Elite Demons, or a few more Devil¡¯s Touched Greater Demons could appear out of nowhere. It didn¡¯t surprise Percy that no one responded. After all, he could still hear footsteps, metal boots clinking on the cold stone behind him. Even if I were to use up all potions, I can produce new Ego-enhanced potions. Melissa and the others have enough potions to enhance, whereas I have more than enough Prosperity to go wild with Ego-enhancing. Percy had been descending the wide tunnel for a while now. He didn¡¯t know how many demon corpses he had consumed, but it had to be many. He used his mana reserves sparingly to avoid consuming too many potions before they encountered truly dangerous enemies. Still, he ¨C after summoning the Gnoll Warlord ¨C encountered several groups of Lesser Demons and Elite Demons. There were more elites than lesser demons, which surprised him because he expected the Beast King to lose his sanity after facing a cruel reality. His people, the youngest of his land, had been kidnapped, their Essence torn apart and sacrificed to the Devil, and all that remained was their shell, filled with the remains of incorporeal Demons. Ghost-like Demons existed. You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story. They were rare, but Percy read about them taking possession of corpses after their Essence had left their bodies. That was what must have happened. Percy wasn¡¯t certain, of course, but he didn¡¯t believe in fortune. After a battle with more than a dozen Elite Demons, nobody from the envoy or the Beast Legion had joined him in the battle, and Percy was fed up. He heard their chattering behind him, and their footsteps were even closer than before, yet nobody helped him for the last few battles. ¡°Guys, we cannot go on like this. It¡¯s not like I don¡¯t like fighting, but this is nonsense. I am supposed to save my mana to fight the Greater Demons. How about you give me a helping hand or two?¡± Percy asked the others. This time, he expected an answer from the others. At least Melissa should have answered. No, she would have answered for sure. That¡¯s odd. No, in the first place¡­why would Melissa not use her Ego to kill the Lesser Demons? She has always attacked them. Something was wrong, and Percy noticed it only now. The chattering voices remained the same, and the footsteps sounded too¡­similar. It was almost like the others had been making the same sounds for¡­ Percy didn¡¯t know for how long. How did I not notice that? Percy¡¯s eyes narrowed, and [Hawk Eyes] activated again. He didn¡¯t remember when he¡¯d turned off the Augmentation, but what unfolded before him surprised him greatly. The density of Demonic Essence around him was incredibly thick. But there was also something else. An aroma he didn¡¯t know. It overwhelmed the filth, blood, and gore that had filled his nostrils the whole time. Percy spun around, a bad premonition creeping up on him. There was nobody behind him. Did they leave him behind to fend for himself? No. The envoy members would have followed him. That was part of their mission. At least Melissa and those brave enough to descend into the depths of the Demon Lair would have come with him. How much time has passed since I left? I have been absorbing the corpses left behind by the Beast King. The trails of gore, the path of death¡­I absorbed the corpses¡­but what happened then? There were no corpses around him besides the Elite Demons he had just slain. The cavern tunnel was also wider than before. No, Percy was at the end of the cavern tunnel. It spread open, revealing a massive underground hall. A hall filled with Demons, led by a mature Demoness. A powerful Greater Demon with human-like looks if it weren¡¯t for her leathery wings and a few more intriguing feathers. Her appearance resembled one of the most beautiful women Percy had ever seen. She had long, dark violet hair that cascaded down her back, vibrant purple eyes, and a slender body. Her chestnut tan looked natural, like her violet, almost dark lips. She pressed a hand, soft and slender like she¡¯d never done any hard labor, pressed into her wide hips as she looked at him. She smiled at him, revealing perfectly arranged, white teeth, except two slightly longer fangs. ¡°Vampire?¡± Percy mumbled in confusion as his brain shut off. Looking at her was enough to overwhelm him, to take advantage of his emotions¡­and alter them as she pleased. Only now did Percy realize what was going on. ¡°A Vampire? I am much more than a mere Vampire, youngling,¡± The Demoness said, her ripe voice ringing in Percy¡¯s ears like chimes on a warm evening in the summer, ¡°I am everything you desire. My name is Beth, the love of your life, and you¡­ You are mine now!¡± Percy¡¯s blood was boiling, and his cheeks flushed red. Not because he was overwhelmed with excitement and happiness like the Demoness thought, but mostly because the Azure Dragon¡¯s Essence overwhelmed Percy. Why does it feel like you are blaming me for falling victim to a Succubus? It¡¯s not my fault¡­well, not really. Whatever! Even if it is my fault, it is your fault as well. You are my Essence, you know?! Stop acting like we are separate individuals! He was certain the Azure Dragon¡¯s Essence rebelled, but not because of the Succubus¡¯ trap anymore. It felt like the Essence was enraged because it was not at fault. After all, it was awakened in the body of someone who had yet to accept his bloodline! ¡°Didn¡¯t you hear me, love?¡± Beth, the Demoness, asked, her voice like honey, ¡°You are mine now! Come here and let me¨C...¡± ¡°Can you shut your mouth now?¡± Percy thundered, his eyes narrowed to tiny slits, ¡°I¡¯m having an important discussion with my Essence. We are at odds and have to clear the air first.¡± The Succubus stared at Percy, her eyes narrowed to tiny slits. ¡°Did it not work? No, I am sure he fell victim to my spell. I focused everything on him because he told me to. There is no way I failed,¡± She mumbled, but her voice was loud enough to resound throughout the hall. Percy clicked his tongue and stared dagger at her. ¡°Sorry, but you are not my type,¡± Percy waved his hand dismissively. More importantly, where did you bring me, and where are my friends?¡± B3 Chapter 37 - Succubus Once his mind was cleared and the Succubus¡¯ bewitching powers stopped working, Percy realized what must have happened. She, or one of her victims, must have used something similar to the shadow step teleportation to separate me from the rest of the group. ¡°I am not your type? How dare a cretin like you utter such nonsense?!¡± Beth, the Succubus, screamed at the top of her lungs. Either you¡¯re a narcissist or a hypocrite. I don¡¯t care. You brought me here, separated me from my people, and allowed me to deal with myself alone. That wasn¡¯t nice. ¡°The Beast King wasn¡¯t here yet. He is in a different hall, isn¡¯t he?¡± Percy asked, ignoring Beth¡¯s outburst. His eyes flicked to the masses of Demons spread across the large hall, beads of sweat trickling down his temples. ¡°Your furry friend is being taken care of. Don¡¯t you worry about that,¡± Beth hissed, ¡°You better pay attention to your well-being!¡± As the Succubus¡¯ words escaped her lips, Demonic Essence stirred within her. At first, Percy expected Beth to use her Succubus¡¯ powers again, but he was far off with that. She controlled the shadows around Percy¡¯s feet to release shadowy spikes from the ground. She gained more powers from the Devil than the Thyrx. That is¡­bad Percy winced and lightly kicked the ground to escape the shadow spikes that would have pierced his ankles. He landed on the spikes¡¯ flat sides a moment later and crushed them at once. Fast and hard to perceive, but not very durable. That is doable. I guess. Beth¡¯s tongue clicked, and a second barrage of shadow spikes burst from the ground. This time, however, Percy was prepared. His mana was spread out in thin layers to scan the ground around him, and he saw the Demonic Essence seeping into the shadows thanks to his Augmentation. Percy instinctively summoned [Cyromancy] to freeze the ground around him. The shadow spikes burst through the thin layer of ice but slowed down and turned glacial blue before reaching Percy¡¯s ankles. The shadow spikes froze mid-way and crumbled without inflicting any harm. ¡°You!! Stop avoiding my attacks!¡± The Succubus screamed, which earned her a scornful stare from Percy. ¡°Are you dumb? The Devil should have improved your intelligence rather than granting you new power.¡± Beth¡¯s expression darkened, and she rumbled something, but it was in a language Percy couldn¡¯t understand. She raised her arms and released a wave of Demonic Essence into the surroundings. The Demons in the hall stirred and turned to glance at the Succubus, who pointed at Percy. ¡°Kill him for me, and you might get lucky tonight!¡± She commanded, her purple eyes glowing dangerously. A lot has gone wrong with that idiotic Demoness. Unfortunately, there are even dumber creatures in this cavern system. Percy lamented inwardly as the Demons, Lesser, and Elite, turned to eye Percy. They would obviously attack him sooner or later, but he¡¯d rather fight them one by one or in small groups instead. That wasn¡¯t going to happen. The masses charged at him simultaneously. ¡°This is going to be fun,¡± Percy winced, changing his stance subtly. He summoned the Gnoll Warlord and retrieved the bladed arms of the Greater Demon he¡¯d killed before. The Thyrx¡¯s bladed arms may not be perfect, but the Thyrx was a powerful Greater Demon, each part of his body tempered to the extreme. It was at the Evolved Tier, and thus the Greater Demon¡¯s bladed arms were much better suited for the Gnoll Warlord as the toothpick-like Silvron Sword Artifact. ¡°It might not be an Artifact, but this is better than nothing,¡± Percy apologized to the Gnoll Warlord as it reached for the Thyrx¡¯s bladed arms. It tightly grasped the handles and elbow and swung the bladed arms around. The bladed arm was far from perfect, but [Master of the Blade] worked wonders again. The bladed arms were also blades and thus included in the miraculous powers of the Augmentation. Percy¡¯s change shifted subtly again as the Gnoll Warlord roared. His blood boiled, and his mana churned as he clutched the Syreablade tightly. Shadow spikes burst from the ground again. This time, however, they struck the Gnoll Warlord. Hyean, already activated [Berserl], felt several stings but didn¡¯t care too much. His hide was stronger than the norm, and [Berserk] further enhanced his physical durability while suppressing his pain receptors. The Gnoll Warlord barely felt anything and walked forward with a lithe gati. This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. The shadow spikes shattered just like that, their sharp ends still stuck in the Gnoll Warlord¡¯s legs. That¡¯s better than nothing, I guess. Percy retrieved an Ego-enhanced Mana Potion, one of his strongest ones, removed the cork, and downed it. The potion had yet to jump into full effect when the masses of Demons reached them. There had to be hundreds, but Percy pulled back. He retreated into the much narrower cavern tunnel with the Gnoll Warlord, though Hyean retreated only reluctantly to fight small batches of Demons at a time. The ¡®narrow¡¯ cavern tunnel was still close to five meters wide, but no more than five Demons could charge at them at a time without disrupting each other. Yet, that was exactly what they did. The Lesser Demons were already not as intelligent as the remaining Demons, but they acted like mindless beasts under the influence of the Succubus¡¯ charm. They charged at Percy and the Gnoll Warlord next to each other, shoving their brethren aside, hoping to reach their enemies first. Percy released a barrage of [Cyromancy] icicles, piercing several Lesser Demons in the chest and the eyes, killing them on the spot. The dead Lesser Demons stumbled and crashed to the ground, disrupting the flow of Demons. The Demons right behind the bodies were caught by surprise and fell over the collapsing Demons. They couldn¡¯t even defend themselves as Percy used [Cyromancy] again. This time, however, Percy summoned a low-hanging spike wall with impeccable timing. The demons fell right into the spike wall. They were impaled and transformed into easy targets, which the Gnoll Warlord took care of. Several heads flung through the air before more icicles whizzed past the summoned Monster, ending the lives of another half a dozen Lesser Demons. Percy licked his lips as more and more interfaces popped up, but he held back. Covering the ground in corpses and forming small piles was one of his greatest advantages. Even the Elite Demons struggled to cross the corpse-covered ground, especially with [Cyromancy] spikes jutting from the ground now and then. The Succubus¡¯ charm influenced the Elites, but it wasn¡¯t potent enough to disrupt their combat awareness. They saw the spikes jutting from the ground next to their brethren¡¯s corpses and slowed down to protect their feet from getting impaled. The same couldn¡¯t be said about the Lesser Demons, though. They were victims of the Succubus charm and the lethality of ¡®friendly fire.¡¯ Some Lesser Demons pushed each other into the spikes and spike walls, Percy guessed those instances were accidents, but they amused him nonetheless, but there were also times they injured each other intentionally to breach the spike walls by using their brethren as jumping pads. But they didn¡¯t survive long either. If anything, the Lesser Demons were the easiest to take care of. After applying [Cyromany] a few times and taking out a few nasty Elites with barrages of larger icicles, even some ice blocks and blades conjured from ice, Percy didn¡¯t have much work to do. The entrance to the cavern hall was half covered, restraining the flood of Demons even more than expected. Shadowy tendrils shoved aside piles of Demons to make space for the masses of Demons, but after Percy froze the piles of Demons together, even that didn¡¯t work easily anymore. Some Demons might be small and agile but heavier than Percy. Multiplied by a few dozen times, you¡¯d have to pull several hundred kilos to retrieve the Demon piles to make space. There are 109 interfaces, but hundreds of Demons are in the hall. There is a lot more left to deal with. Percy licked his lips. If I slow down now, Hyean can kill most Demons while I save up mana to deal with the Succubus. That sounded like a plan. It was simple but effective. Exactly what Percy wanted. *** Time slowed down, and Percy could hardly believe it when he found himself bored to death fighting the Lesser and Elite Demons. His strategy was enough to effortlessly kill Lesser Demons ¨C there was no need to waste any more mana after forming the piles of frozen corpses and ice spike walls ¨C but even the Elite Demons died faster than expected. Even without using [Berserk], the Gnoll Warlord was strong enough to deal with the Elite Demons fairly easily. As long as no more than a duo of Elite Demons attacked him at the same time, Hyean would kill them within five moves without sustaining a single scratch. Percy ensured the Gnoll Warlord would never have to fight more than three Elite Demons, at first, until Hyean started using [Berserk] at times to crush three to four Elite Demons without getting injured. He had been hoping to fight a few Greater Demons, but the only Greater Demon in the hall seemed to be the Succubus, Beth. That was a great disappointment, resulting in his boredom. Beth teleported to his back once, but she rushed back with her shadow step ability when both Percy and the Gnoll Warlock flicked around, [Berserk], and [Master of the Blade] unleashed to their fullest. If the Succubus had been a physical monstrosity, Percy would have been afraid to fight her after hundreds of Demons died, but that wasn¡¯t the case. She had a powerful charm and nice abilities granted by Devil¡¯s Touch, but Percy wasn¡¯t afraid of them. Conjuring shadows and transforming them into solid and high-velocity attacks was interesting, but since they were fragile, it wasn¡¯t too much trouble to take care of. The Gnoll Warlord was exhausted, which was why Percy de-summoned Hyean when the flow of Demons decreased. He used [Hawk Eyes] and walked across the masses of dead Demons to peek outside. There he saw the Succubus. Her expression was dark, her features grim and filled with fury. ¡°Did you enjoy that?¡± Percy chuckled, ¡°To think you would let the Demons charge into their deaths just like that.¡± He tilted his head and called upon the Abomination. ¡°That was stupid.¡± A moment later, the Abomination gushed out of him. B3 Chapter 38 - Succubus II There were still some Demons left in the cavern hall. A minority, a few dozen compared to the hundreds who¡¯d been roaming the cavern hall before, but they exuded far more pressure than the rest. The remaining survivors were the strongest Demons under the Succubus¡¯ control. Maybe she isn¡¯t as stupid as I thought. She tried wearing me down with the masses to kill me when I¡¯m exhausted. Her bodyguards are not at the Evolved Tier, but it looks like more than half of them are Mutants, probably also inflicted with Devil¡¯s Touch. That was interesting, but the Succubus was sorely mistaken if she thought he would be scared by Devil¡¯s Touch. If anything, the opposite was the case. The Mutant Elite Demons feared the creature emerging from the frozen battlefield. The Abomination burst out of Percy and expanded until Percy was engulfed by its pitch-black body. A roar escaped Percy¡¯s lips, and the Abomination split up. It dashed in all directions and crashed with a loud crunch into the Demon carcasses. The atmosphere over the cavern hall intensified again, and the first Elite Demons backpedaled. Their bodies trembled uncontrollably as they realized what had unfolded before them. [415 Lesser Demons (Gnylds, Minos,...) have been slain. 6,013,932 Prosperity has been added.] [301 Elite Demons (Lifefeeder, Cursias, Doomfeeder, Pleacis) have been slain. 43,352,835 Prosperity has been added.] Percy forgot how many Elite Demons they¡¯d fought. In the first place, he had no idea how much time passed since the Succubus ordered everyone to attack them. Still, one thing was certain: Beth, the Succubus, could have won against Percy if she hadn¡¯t sacrificed her Lesser Demons mindlessly. She could have done a lot of things much better to emerge victorious. Then again, I didn¡¯t expect there to be this many Elite Demons. There were always Elite Demons replacing the ones Hyean, and I killed, but to think there have been 300 Elite Demons¡­The Devil won¡¯t be happy with the Succubus. That¡¯s good for me, though. Percy chuckled. He may not have ranked up, but that wasn¡¯t important. He was a little tired, but dealing with a few dozen Mutant Elite Demons and the Succubus was possible regardless. Beth hissed in anger. She huffed and puffed like a spoiled brat whose beloved toy had been destroyed. Percy ignored that and stepped forward. The Demons, still frightened by the Abomination as it returned to Percy, responded by stepping back. The Succubus, in a fit or fury, released a bladed whip made of shadows at the nearest Elite Demon, beheading him. ¡°Fight him!¡± She bellowed, but it was almost like the Mutants couldn¡¯t hear her. Their full attention lingered on Percy and the remnants of the Abomination clinging to Percy¡¯s body. The Succubus was forced to use Charm again to suppress the fear the Abomination had instilled in the Demons¡¯ rotten hearts. A Lifefeeder, with a shapeshifted claw that looked like a Pleacis¡¯ bladed arm, disappeared behind a massive Doomfeeder. Percy¡¯s eyebrows arched as the mana net around him was torn apart. He spun around, tightly gripping Dragon Fang, and cleaved through the Mutant Lifefeeder as he emerged behind Percy. Percy didn¡¯t lose any momentum, and his spin ended right where he had started. He smiled at Beth, conjured a field of ice around his feet, and stopped the shadow spikes coming for his ankles without looking at them. ¡°You are also¡­¡± Beth put the pieces together, her demeanor changing drastically as understanding dawned upon her.¡± ¡°Devil¡¯s Touch? Yeah, the Devil marked me as well. However, contrary to the likes of you and your band¡­¡± Percy snickered, ¡°I¡¯m not a useless tool of that idiot from the Seven Hells.¡± The Succubus¡¯ expression transformed into utter fear only for a moment. Her eyes rolled back, and her arms flayed around, and her skin seemed to wiggle as if her veins and muscles had transformed into worms. Her features hardened after a second, and eternal darkness seemed to form in her eyes. No words were exchanged, but Percy sensed something from the Succubus. Something strong, much stronger than the Greater Demon could ever dream of becoming. It looked straight at him, the cold eyes drilling into the deepest parts of Percy¡¯s being. The eyes were cold, but there was also something else. Curiosity. It lasted only a few moments, but there it was. Curiosity glimmered in eyes filled with eternal darkness. Then there was hunger. Unbearable hunger flooded the ice-cold eyes, and it spread out like the plague. Endless hunger filled the cavern hall suddenly, trickling into the Mutants, affecting them, changing them. A cacophony of growls and roars resounded, while Percy could only shudder. The Devil and his endless hunger. He¡­wants to eat me¡­devour me, just like I devour others. The eternal darkness in the Succubus¡¯ eyes didn¡¯t last long. The Devil¡¯s possession stopped after mere moments, but these moments had been deeply imprinted into Percy¡¯s mind. He broke into a cold sweat. The Mutants were hungry, lusting for a powerful human¡¯s lifeforce and Essence. They lusted after Percy, the endless hunger spreading through them, feeding them with power in exchange for a promise. The promise to kill and feast on the beings who¡¯d invaded their lair. The Mutants¡¯ heads turned to Percy in unison. The fear they¡¯d felt up until a few moments ago was no more. All they felt were hunger and power, and they desired more. The Succubus was also affected by the endless hunger filling the cavern hall, but her attitude had changed. As the eternal darkness in her eyes receded, she started smiling. Shadowy whips burst out of the shadows around her. They moved along the Succubus and whisked in all directions at her command. It almost looked like they were extensions of her body. She laughed heartily as the test of her enhanced powers ended.Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon. ¡°Thank you for underestimating and insulting my Master. He sure doesn¡¯t like you, cretin!¡± Beth chuckled, ¡°No. It might be the opposite. He might like you too much. He¡¯d love to eat you alive and consume the fragment that¡¯d escaped¡­¡± The Succubus¡¯ expression distorted in pain at the last words. She couldn¡¯t finish her sentence. The Devil had just punished her. ¡°I think he dislikes you. That¡¯s understandable. You¡¯re a chatterbox, and an ugly whore, after all.¡± Percy retorted lightly. His provocation worked wonders. The Succubus¡¯ purple eyes glowed dangerously, and solidified shadows burst everywhere around Percy. He had to insert much more mana into [Cyromancy] than before to stop the attacks, but it worked. But what happened next was chaos, to put it into simple words. The Mutants merged into the shadows and approached Percy. They moved in unison and surrounded him, leaving little place to escape. Percy saw a few openings to rush through and escape, but it was not like he could run from the Mutants¡¯ power to jump through shadows. If anything, the open areas were obvious traps. Percy clicked his tongue in annoyance and pushed to the closest Pleacis. The Pleacis also charged, just like the other Elite Demons, but Percy was still faster. His Tier was greater than theirs, and he was further augmented by [Dragonblood] and both Boost Augmentations. He was faster and stronger. Still, they were more hungry and much stronger than the 300ish Elite Demons from before. Percy reached the Pleacis, twisted Dragon Fang to block two blows, and inched closer to ram the Syreablade deep into the Elite Demon¡¯s chest. A Lifefeeder appeared right next to him. It was much faster than the remaining Elite demons and threatened to leave behind a few claw marks when Percy erected an ice wall between them. A Doomfeeder struck Percy square in the back, hurling him through the air, but Dragonscale blocked the impacting force neatly. Percy landed on the ground several meters away, but there was no time to relax. He pressed his arms tightly against the ground, his muscles flexed and pushed his body upward right before dozens of shadowy spikes could impale him. However, a pair of bladed whips struck him. Percy blocked one bladed whip, averting its trajectory to hit his shoulder instead of cutting his throat, whereas the other one pierced his thigh. The pain was bad but bearable. The only issue were the Lifefeeder, who could now feed on his open wounds as long as they were in his range. The other Elite Demons could stall him while the Lifefeeders would slowly take him apart, draining his lifeforce. Percy groaned and covered his wounds in ice, hoping it would slow the Lifefeeders. Then, he used [Berserk] to push the pain occupying his mind aside by allowing his emotions and adrenaline to take over. Percy landed on the ground, shattered a bunch of shadowy spikes on the way, and hurled Dragon Fang through the air. It pierced cleanly through a Doomfeeder¡¯s wide skull and was pulled back before the Doomfeeder succumbed to the wounds, collapsing to the ground. Percy had to evade a series of attacks while the Syreablade returned to him, but coating his fingers in ice, replicating a Demon¡¯s claws, worked wonders as well. One of his hands transformed into an ice blade while his others were highlighted with long, frozen, razor-sharp fingernails. The blade cut roughly through a Cursias¡¯ neck before shattering. Percy breathed heavily, but he was satisfied with the attack. [Cyromancy] wasn¡¯t made to replicate blades like Dragon Fang. If anything, Dragon Fang was a limited edition. Percy doubted any Master, maybe even Ascended, would possess something as unique as the Syreablade. It was too good to be true and couldn¡¯t be replicated. Still, the ice-bladed arm was good enough to cut someone¡¯s throat, even if it required much more brute force to do so. Percy severed several bladed shadow whips when Dragon Fang returned to him. He moved smoothly but couldn¡¯t evade all attacks. Several Lifefeeders were already feasting on him, and ice walls didn¡¯t always work. In the first place, it was growing increasingly more difficult to conjure ice walls as he fell victim to [Berserk]¡¯s power. But that wasn¡¯t necessarily bad. Percy stopped using [Cyromancy] as much when he unleashed [Berserk]. His focus returned to obliterating his enemies, which was what he did. He was faster and stronger, and [Berserk] allowed him to focus on that. More than a dozen Mutants died at his hands since he activated [Berserk], but the Succubus didn¡¯t allow him to inflict damage without consequences. Percy sustained a wound for every few kills, which the Lifefeeder took advantage of. They gained tremendous power by absorbing Percy¡¯s highly concentrated lifeforce. There was only one problem. Percy wasn¡¯t as affected by the drainage of lifeforce as expected. Even Percy was surprised at how little lifeforce the Lifefeeder drained, whereas the Lifefeeder were shocked about the ocean of life they found within Percy. They feasted on him and gained tremendous power, but Percy didn¡¯t grow weaker. If anything, his hatred of the Demons increased with every injury he sustained, which strengthened him. His blood boiled, and he rammed Dragon Fang in between a Lifefeeder¡¯s eyes before it would grow too strong. He then took the remaining Elite Demons out one by one, ignoring the wounds the Succubus inflicted on him. The wounds affected his combat prowess, yet he cared less and less about them. Percy blocked only the most grievous attacks to protect his life while the hunting process continued. At some point, Percy was covered in blood. Dragonscale sustained minor scratches, and the Doomfeeder¡¯s physical hits left some minor marks that were barely visible, but the ambient mana solved that issue in no time. [Self-Repair] had already mended most scratches. Percy craned his neck and turned around while retrieving a small vial from his storage ring. It was a simple Healing Potion with one unique property called [Mending Wounds]. Percy downed the potion and approached the Succubus slowly. The nutrients and bits of his ocean of lifeforce drained to mend his wounds as he closed the distance to Beth. She was trembling, her eyes wide in horror. ¡°How are you still alive? Why is the poison not working?!¡± She screamed at him, but Percy only smiled. ¡°I think you¡¯re forgetting two things,¡± He said, dashing forward. The Succubus wasn¡¯t weak by any means. She may be physically weaker than the Thyrx, but her overall physical prowess was still stronger than the strongest Mutant Elite Demon had been. Combined with her shadow abilities and Charm, the Succubus was supposed to be a deadly foe. However, Charm doesn¡¯t work on Perce, and he ignores most of her elemental attacks. ¡°First, I am also affected by Devil¡¯s Touch, so anything related to Demonic Essences seems to have less effect on me,¡± Percy clarified, leaving out that he found out about this only today, ¡°And second¡­¡± He smiled, flashing his white teeth. ¡°Dragon blood is running through my veins!!¡± B3 Chapter 39 - Discovery The Succubus¡¯ purple eyes stared empty at Percy. They were once bright and full of life, but now all that¡¯s left is emptiness. Percy¡¯s chest heaved up and down heavily. Even though he¡¯d been healed by the Healing Potion merely minutes ago, he was injured again. His body was covered in moderate and deep gashes inflicted by the desperate Greater Demon. The Succubus had been powerful, but once he evaded her bladed shadow whips and spikes, Percy could easily remove the threat. All it took was a single slash. Percy¡¯s legs caved in, and he slumped to the ground. His eyes drifted to the Mutant corpses across the hall, and a heavy sigh escaped his lips. A red vial appeared in Percy¡¯s hands at some point. He removed the cork and moved the vial to his lips to drink the viscous liquid. It stirred something within him, but Percy couldn¡¯t focus on it. How did the Demons build such a large cavern system? I must have been fighting Beth and her little horde of Demons for quite some time now, but nobody has reached me yet. It isn¡¯t even like we¡¯ve been fighting silently. He ruffled through his hair in frustration and used [Consume] to devour the Mutants and Beth. Prosperity skyrocketed, and his Tier was once again close to ranking up. That was no surprise, given how many Demon corpses he¡¯d consumed in the last few hours. Demon carcasses nourished his Tier more than the average objects or monster bodies, but the Mutants, inflicted with Devil¡¯s Touch, were even better. In fact, Devil¡¯s Touch bodies were several times more valuable for Percy¡¯s growth. The Abomination consumed and digested the power the Devil had granted to the Mutants to grow stronger. It wasn¡¯t a massive improvement, but Percy noticed a clear distinction compared to before. The Abomination was easier to control, which was also owed to their earlier discussion, yet it was also far more efficient and provided him with more Prosperity. The Abomination¡¯s bond with the Ego, or me, has grown stronger. Is that also why the conversion to Prosperity is higher now? Devil¡¯s Touch bodies are already worth a lot more than the norm, but it feels like I¡¯m gaining more as the Abomination consumes more of the Devil¡¯s power. That was great, but Percy was still exhausted. The Demon bodies were no more, leaving Percy alone in the massive cavern hall. The silence was confusing at first, but he relaxed for a moment. Maybe the others were struggling to reach the deeper parts of the cavern network, but Percy was already deep down. All he needed was a few deep breaths to cleanse the exhaustion taking root in the deepest parts of his body, and he would be fine. At least, that was what Percy hoped when he consumed several different potions to push his body back to peak condition. It didn¡¯t work as expected, leaving Percy¡¯s body in great condition, but his mind and soul were beyond exhausted. Maybe this will help a little. [32.365.921 Prosperity has been consumed.] [Your Tier increased by one rank.] After consuming close to a thousand Demons, mostly Elites, including various Mutants, and a handful of Greater Demons, one could assume it was time to rank up, but his Ego was not up for it. Fortunately, investing Prosperity directly in his Tier was still possible. His pores opened to mana, ready to take in the purest mana in the surroundings ¨C it wouldn¡¯t absorb impure mana because it never did ¨C but nothing happened at first. Percy grunted as he got up from the ground and looked around. ¡°Do I have to search for pure mana to take in now? I didn¡¯t expect this to turn into a treasure hunt,¡± He snickered, trying to ease the situation but failing miserably. His body screamed for pure mana, yet nothing was nearby. The Mutants had already tarnished most mana around the cavern hall.The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. Fortunately, not all of it. Percy discovered traces of pure mana at the other end of the lengthy hall once [Hawk Eyes] was active. It drained the bits of mana his potions had replenished, showing him everything he had to see. What is that? This doesn¡¯t seem¡­normal¡­ Percy¡¯s eyes narrowed to tiny slits. He ignored his mental exhaustion and approached the other side of the cavern hall. His dried-out body attracted traces of pure mana, his mana reservoir twisting his insides to increase its pulling force. A wince escaped Percy¡¯s lips at the discomfort, but he moved onward, allowing the traces of mana pulled into his mana reservoir to transform into a steady flow. As he reached the other end of the cavern hall, Percy¡¯s mana reservoir was still not full, but several steady streams of mana entering his body had formed. There was no impurity in the mana either. That was a little unexpected since his body demanded the purest mana. He almost expected his body to start cleansing and purifying the mana in the Demon Lair, no matter how pure it seemed at first. There had to be imperfections in the mana here. After all, they were in a Demon Lair, The Lair of a Demon Lord, to be precise. That confused him, stirring doubts within Percy¡¯s mind even though he was exhausted. His mind didn¡¯t work as fast as before, but his gut feeling supported Percy¡¯s confusion. He activated [Hawk Eyes] again and maintained the Augmentation for a few seconds with the mana he¡¯d just absorbed to unfold the mystery. And there it was, at the end of the hall. Three cavern tunnels, one of them overflowing with mana. There is still lots of tainted mana in the hall, altered by the devilish torches and the Demons¡¯ presence, but how can there be so much mana in that tunnel? There is a lot more mana in one place than¡­ Even the Moonlight Forest doesn¡¯t have that much mana, even though there is a mana vein. Then again, the Beastlands¡¯ surface isn¡¯t much different from the Moonlight Forest. Percy¡¯s mind cleared up as more mana entered his reservoir. It stopped pulling a senseless amount of mana into his body when the reservoir was filled to the brim, but there was excess mana nonetheless. Percy infused it into his mind. Now that I think about it, I have never experienced what the mana vein in the Moonlight Forest feels like. All I got to experience were the remnants, the Imperial prospects¡¯ leftovers. The pieces were slowly together. The Beastlands, even its borders, were mana-infused, just like the Moonlight Forest. The underground cavern of the Demon Lair was overflowing with mana, just like the mana vein in the Wintermoon Estate ought to be. ¡°A mana vein is underneath the Demon Lair,¡± Percy murmured, his eyes widening slowly. ¡°There is a mana vein!¡± Percy didn¡¯t remember reading much about mana veins, but he knew they were rare. It was difficult to discover mana veins, but it was even harder to gain access to them. One sign of a nearby mana vein was high mana density. That might be obvious at first glance, yet other phenomena also led to regions with high mana density. Even if there was a mana vein, it didn¡¯t mean it was stable enough to be accessed directly by other beings. But that was possible in the mana vein underneath the Demon Lair. At least, that was what the pure mana oozing from the cavern tunnel in the middle suggested. The mana wanted to be absorbed, and wanted to be used. It didn¡¯t shy away from Percy. On the contrary, Percy had to conceal his body to block the mana once his mana reservoir was filled to the brim. The mana vein underneath the Demon Lair could be accessed easily. Percy was sure of it. ¡°It¡¯s similar to the mana vein underneath the Wintermoon Estate,¡± He swallowed hard, understanding the situation very well. ¡°The Demons didn¡¯t attack the Wintermoon Estate to eliminate the Imperial prospects and some pesky noblechildren. That was a nice side-effect of their main priority,¡± Percy murmured. ¡°They wanted the mana vein.¡± His face was drained of all its color. ¡°Just like the Demons in the Beastlands. And they succeeded.¡± Their initial plan succeeded. Nobody knew how long the Demons had been accessing the mana vein, but if they used the excessive kidnapping of Beastmen''s children as a starting date¡­it had to be months. The Demons must have been accessing the mana vein in the Beastlands for months now. But what was the next step in their plan? What¡¯s going to happen now? B3 Chapter 40 - The Lord Percy trailed down the cavern tunnel to close the distance to the mana vein. Something about it was odd, but it was hard to grasp at a distance. However, as he ventured deeper, Percy noticed something in the air. Impurities clinging onto mana¡­Demonic Essence, devouring what had been tainted. Percy licked his lips nervously. He might have grown stronger and more mature over the last few months, but this was still too much for him. The Devil was still too much for him to handle. No matter how confident Percy tried to be before the Demons possessed by the Devil, he couldn¡¯t imagine fighting the Devil head-on. One step at a time. The Devil is not yet in the mortal realm. He is not powerful enough to descend yet. Even though Percy tried reassuring himself, it was a brutal fact that the Devil¡¯s influence was everywhere. His power augmented the Demons, his Essence transformed the Gifted, and his presence disrupted the order of the mortal realm. Even though he had yet to descend, the Devil caused chaos across the mortal realm. Percy couldn¡¯t fathom what would happen once the Devil gathered the power needed to reach the mortal realm. The deeper Percy ventured, the more mana shrouded him. He found himself in another large hall, but this one was empty. Several cavern tunnels from all directions connected to the hall, but one hall attracted his attention. It was a massive ten-meter-tall entrance to the deepest part of the Demon Lair. It connected everyone to the mana vein and some sort of dark, highly compressed mass that clung onto it. The Abomination stirred, but not in excitement. For the first time since Percy could recall, the Abomination was afraid. It urged him to retreat at once and run away as far as he could. Percy swallowed hard. The mana attracted his attention. It urged him to absorb as much as possible¡­as if trying to seek shelter somewhere else. Is that dark mass¨C.. His thoughts were interrupted when the hall began to shake violently. Loose rocks fell to the ground beside Percy, startling him awake. His eyes widened, and he looked to the right, where a rock, larger and wider than his body, had crashed into. He swallowed hard and took a few heavy breaths, but his mind and body wouldn¡¯t calm down. The tremors continued, but it wasn¡¯t until a thunderous rumbling resounded before Percy made a pirouette. He spun around to see the first of many cavern tunnels collapse. A second tunnel followed suit. It almost felt like a warning from the Abomination and the Demon Lair. Percy was to avoid the dark mass gathered next to the mana vein. He swallowed hard as the third tunnel collapsed. The others should be fine. I¡¯m probably in the worst position down here. Even though the situation wasn¡¯t in his favor, Percy smiled. He found the mana vein and discovered¡­something. The Devil¡¯s plan was about to be unraveled. Unfortunately, the last pieces of the puzzle were still missing, and he couldn¡¯t collect them in time. The tunnels, alongside the cavern hall, were about to collapse. The Demon Lair will be no longer after today. Hopefully, that¡¯s enough to stop the Devil¡¯s plan. If not¡­No! Let¡¯s not think about that now! Get your act together and leave quickly! Percy reminded himself. He looked at the tunnels and would have chosen the same he¡¯d used to reach the deepest part of the Demon Lair if it hadn¡¯t collapsed. Forced to take another tunnel, Percy followed his gut feeling and vision. He picked the tunnel, which easily withstood the violent rumbling without sustaining any damage. He circulated mana through his lower body and kicked the ground. Percy reached top speed in no time, reached the tunnel, and dashed up the steep elevation. The pure mana filling the deepest part of the Demon Lair was soon replaced by tainted mana. Percy groaned again, but this time because the mana around him had been corrupted much worse than the mana in the other cavern hall. That didn¡¯t make sense¡­except if he¡¯d chosen the tunnel inhabited by a being stronger than Beth, the Succubus. Or the being was weaker even though it released something more harmful into the surroundings than the Succubus¡¯ Essence. Unfortunately, the latter was unlikely. To release something more potent than the Succubus after she¡¯d been enhanced by the Devil¡¯s power twice was highly unlikely, to say the least.Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. But that wasn¡¯t the case. Percy discovered something else. Someone else. He found the culprits responsible for the Demon Lair¡¯s collapse. Percy entered a ginormous hall filled with tainted mana and Demonic Essence, the Beast King, and a massive crimson creature at its center. The crimson creature had the same physique as a Minotaur. However, it was more than four meters tall, had a crimson carapace covering its hulking muscles, and its head was flat as if someone had severed the snout of a bull. It was crimson and emanated crimson Demonic Essence into the surroundings, destroying and tainting the mana around them as they clashed. The crimson creature was clearly a Demon Lord. The Lord of all Minos. The Beast King clashed with the Demon Lord and didn¡¯t seem to be at a disadvantage. He was covered in blood and afflicted by various curses or similar afflictions, but the Beast King wasn¡¯t on the losing side. At least, that was what Percy would have guessed, given their bloody exchanges. Yet, something odd occurred whenever Percy was certain the Beast King discovered an opening in the Demon Lord¡¯s defenses. The Demon Lord released a beam of crimson light, which the Beast King could have evaded easily. It was the opportunity he needed to counter and strike back as long as the iron was hot. But the Beast King didn¡¯t evade the attack. On the contrary, he took on the full force of the crimson beam without hesitation. The beam struck him square in the chest and burned him alive. Or so Percy had feared until he remembered the Beast King¡¯s Purgatory Fire and his great elemental resistance to fire. Still, he wasn¡¯t immune to the hellfires summoned and augmented by a Demon Lord. The crimson beam burned through the Beast King¡¯s fur and seared his flesh, inflicting tremendous pain. But that didn¡¯t make any sense. Why would the Beast King jump into the crimson beam if he could have easily evaded the attack? The answer came in no time. Percy¡¯s confusion was replaced by horror and anger when he discovered what the Demon Lord would have hit if the Beast King hadn¡¯t blocked the crimson beam. Chained to the walls far behind the Beast King was what the royal envoy and the Beastmen had been looking for. There they were, the people the Beast King had sworn to protect. Dozens of children, victims of the Demons¡¯ gruesome acts, entered Percy¡¯s views. They were chained to the walls, writhing in pain and hunger. They were skinny, on the verge of malnourished, their faces were pale, and their movements slow and sluggish. Percy found deep marks of their captive, dried blood and exposed flesh, hidden by the chains around their arms, legs, and necks. Some wounds were old and had already healed, as much as unattended wounds could heal without enough nutrients and mana, but worse were the wounds that never healed. Their skin, torn into shreds over and over again from countless attempts to escape, appeared before Percy, They resisted¡­ Obviously, they did. He swallowed hard. The children were too weak to resist at this point, but they had given their utmost to fight the Demons¡­to fight the demonification. But they lost the battle. The Beastmen children were demonified, and it couldn¡¯t have been for long. They didn¡¯t look like the other Beastmen, who fell victim to Demonic Essence. Their eyes were bloodshot, and their bodies seemed to grow unnaturally fast, with torn skin and barely healed stretch marks indicating their most recent growth spurt, but not much Demonic Essence had nestled within their mana reservoir as far as Percy could tell. Can they be rescued? Percy wondered, his attention diverting to the Beast King. He sure thinks so. He¡¯s protecting the demonified children with his body¡­with his life on the line. That¡¯s why the Demon Lord is still alive and unscathed. The Lord of the Minos takes advantage of the Beast King¡¯s care for his kind. The Demon Lord took the demonified Beastmen hostage. He couldn¡¯t care less if the children died or not. Thus, he attacked them with no qualms after realizing how much the Beast King cared. He was physically weaker than the Beast King, but his opponent''s heart was his greatest weakness. That¡¯s what the Demon Lord took advantage of. They didn¡¯t notice me yet, or did they? Percy nibbled on his lower lip and used [Silent Reaper]. His eyes trailed across the cavern hall to count the chained children and nodded slowly. Even if the Demon Lair collapses, the Demon Lord has to die¡­and the Beast King has to survive. Even if the children cannot be saved anymore¡­I need to try. If he didn¡¯t rescue them, the Beast King would die, and the Demon Lord would kill them all. Percy couldn¡¯t afford that. Thus, he skulked to the Beastmen children, his eyes narrowed to tiny slits as his Abomination stirred at the sight of the highly potent Demonic Essence trying to take root in the children. Percy tilted his head. Is it possible? No. The Abomination isn¡¯t strong enough. He sighed and the Abomination stirred as if in anger. Yet. Percy added in his mind, unsure if that was going to make a change. He hoped so. It would be best for everyone. B3 Chapter 41 - The Lord & The Beast The demonified children were semi-conscious. They responded to Percy¡¯s touch and stirred when he inserted mana into their broken bodies. Once mana circulated through their mana paths, stimulating their beastial regeneration, Percy retrieved several glass vials. They were Healing Potions, Regeneration Potions, and more. It was all Percy needed to keep the demonified children alive for now. After feeding all the children, he wouldn¡¯t have many left, but that was okay. The final result was the most important thing. The Beast King roared in anger. He shouted something Percy couldn¡¯t hear, but the words weren¡¯t aimed at him, in the first place. The Demon Lord¡¯s deep voice rumbled a moment later, the enjoyment in his voice apparent. Sensing the Beast King¡¯s pain and desperation excited the Demon Lord. Laugh all you want, disgusting bastard! Percy couldn¡¯t tell how bad the Beast King¡¯s situation was, but he wouldn¡¯t waste any precious time, either way. He retrieved Dragon Fang and got to work. He expanded [Silent Reaper]¡¯s range to coat one of the demonified children, Dragon Fang, and the chains in one go, draining his mana rapidly, but it was worth it. Percy didn¡¯t have to be overly cautious or silent. [Silent Reaper] concealed their presence to a certain extent and muffled all sounds. That was all Percy needed to cut through the metal chains like butter. It wasn¡¯t feasible to remove the chains right away ¨C that would require too much time and effort at this point ¨C but it was fine to leave the remains on the children for the time being. He embraced the first demonified child after cutting the chains, pinning her to the wall, and putting her to the ground. She was still unconscious, which was for the best. Percy turned to the next child a moment later and moved [Silent Reaper] ahead. The unconscious girl was not in [Silent Reaper]¡¯s range anymore, but she wasn¡¯t going to move anytime soon. [Silent Reaper] shrouded the next child, and chains no sooner than Dragon Fang whizzed through the air. Percy severed the chains, caught the child, and put her carefully to the ground. She was also unconscious. Percy moved onward without any hesitation. He removed the chains of five more children in the next minute before something went wrong. The first demonified child regained its senses. A young boy woke up, his eyes filled with confusion and rage. He jumped up in fury, huffing and puffing in anger. If it had ended with that, Percy could have intercepted fast enough, but the boy¡¯s movements were accompanied by the chains¡¯ jingling. They scraped across the ground, and the loose ends clashed against one another. The sounds should have been swallowed by the commotion of the battle in the hall¡¯s center, but the sounds must have reached them with the worst possible timing. The Demon Lord¡¯s eyes narrowed, and he shouted something. He kicked the ground and was about to charge past the Beast King with tremendous speed when massive claws wreathed in Purgatory Fire swept across the Demon Lord¡¯s chest. The claws dug deep into the Demon Lord¡¯s chest, forcing him to retreat before the Purgatory Fire would wound him lethally. ¡°Finally!¡± The Beast King roared as if annoyed, but Percy could discern the excitement, ¡°I have been waiting for you, kiddo!¡± He didn¡¯t know how long since someone called him kiddo like this, but Percy snickered. ¡°Stop bickering and get back to work.¡± The Beast King snorted, but the fire in his eyes re-ignited. His muscles flexed, mana churned through the energy paths, and Purgatory Fire engulfed his body as he charged ahead. The sudden switch from defending his people, sacrificing his life to block the crimson beams, to jumping into an aggressive offense took the Demon Lord by surprise. However, the cold voice in the back of his head surprised the Demon Lord the most. Kill. It was only one word, but that was enough. The word was deeply imprinted into the Demon Lord¡¯s soul, the target obvious. This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. Demonic Essence surged out of the Demon Lord¡¯s hands, forming two crimson beams. He aimed past the Beast King and released them the instant he¡¯d gathered enough Demonic Essence. The Beast King responded differently than before. His Purgatory Fire gushed and engulfed the crimson light gathering in the Demon Lord¡¯s palms. A moment later, the Beast King¡¯s claws intertwined with the Demon Lord¡¯s hands. The Demon Lord¡¯s eyes narrowed to tiny slits, but it was already too late. The Purgatory Fire and the condensed Demonic Essence collided and mixed. They intertwined like their hands and exploded as the two forces tried repelling one another. The lack of space around them forced the repelling forces to clash and attempt to destroy each other, resulting in the explosion. The Demon Lord roared in anger and pain, whereas the Beast King swallowed the pain to close the remaining distance to headbutt the Demon Lord. Percy, on the other hand, moved quickly. He summoned the Gnoll Warlord and ordered the summoned Monster to pick up the unconscious children. The raging boy, on the other hand, was taken care of quickly. Percy had no time to calm down the child and tell him they would do their utmost to rescue him. The boy wouldn¡¯t listen to them in the first place. The Demonic Essence was already consuming him. It was better to treat the raging boy like a sac of potatoes. That was what Percy did. He arrived before the child and smacked him firmly in the neck, knocking him unconscious. ¡°Sorry,¡± Percy murmured and returned to the remaining children. Since there was no need to stay silent or concealed, Percy swirled along the wall, wielding Dragon Fang like a madman. The chains were severed in no time, and the children fell to the ground. Percy apologized a few times in his mind, but he was glad the fight would end soon. The children were a bit hurt, but the torture they¡¯d gone through was much worse than falling to the ground. Most were still unconscious either way. Percy scooped some children in his embrace and rushed to the tunnel where Hyean had disappeared. The Gnoll Warlord emerged from the same tunnel again, various images popping up in his mind as they passed one another. There are loud footsteps from above, and you can smell lavender and something sweet. That¡¯s great! The royal envoy was coming, hopefully unscathed and ready to play carriers for a few demonified children. Hyena caught a few more children but was forced to hurl them to the side when a crimson beam struck him square in the chest. Percy felt a pang in his soul, and the Gnoll Warlord collapsed, blood gushing out of him. ¡°That one was on me!¡± The Beast King shouted, one of his claws impaling the Demon Lord. The Beast King took a great risk by allowing the Demon Lord to attack the children, but he trusted Percy. He believed Percy would protect the children, creating the opportunity to impale the Demon Lord¡¯s chest. The Demon Lord roared at the top of his lungs, but the Beast King¡¯s claws, wreathed in Purgatory Fire, pierced his chest flatly, penetrating his heart in one go. ¡°Hyean is dying because of you!¡± Percy bellowed. He acted quickly and de-summoned the Gnoll Warlord. However, he wasn¡¯t certain if Hyean could be salvaged. He knew time would stay still for most Monsters summoned through Monster Cards and that the soul ¨C as long as the bond between Monster and Cardist was strong enough ¨C would mend mild to severe wounds. However, a massive hole in one¡¯s chest was far more than ¡®severe.¡¯ The Gnoll Warlord was mortally wounded. Fuck. Hopefully, Fiona can tend to Hyean. I don¡¯t want to lose him¡­or the boost from his Augmentation. I¡­don¡¯t even know what would happen to the Augmentations as my body grew stronger alongside the Augmentations and Monster Cards¡­ Thoughts and doubts flashed through his mind, but Percy had no time to waste. The Demon Lord might be dying, but he was not yet dead. The last-ditch effort of various monsters was usually considered the most powerful attack. The same applied to Demons, especially a Demon Lord. The Minos Lord struggled and roared, but the Beast King didn¡¯t give him time to retaliate. He spread his claw into the Demon Lord¡¯s chest, grasped his heart, and ripped it out. The Beast King roared at the top of his lungs, his Purgatory Fire burning away the Demon Lord¡¯s lifeforce. The Demon Lord tried retaliating one last time and unleashed its remaining crimson Demonic Essence into the surroundings, but the Beast King was already prepared for that. It unleashed most of its mana, infused into the Purgatory Flames to combat the Demonic Essence like before. The explosions were louder and inflicted more damage, tearing both Beast King and Demon Lord apart, worsening their wounds, but the battle ended. The Demon Lord¡¯s struggle ended as it succumbed. In the meantime, Percy salvaged the last children and took them to the cavern tunnel, where the royal envoy and the rest of the Beast Legion would hopefully be within the next few minutes. Then he turned around, looking at the pride of the Beastlands, the Beast King, one claw still impaling the dead Demon Lord¡¯s chest. The Beast King hurled the carcass aside and roared again, his voice filled with pride. B3 Chapter 42 - Take Him It was over. The Demon Lord was dead, defeated by the Beast King. The Beast King breathed heavily, his chest heaving up and down, blood spurting out of the wounds all over his body with every breath, but he was still alive. He glanced at Percy, his eyes two blazing suns, and roared again. Why are you looking at me like that? Showing off in front of me won¡¯t make up for injuring Hyean. You were willing to sacrifice my Monster Card! Percy was still deflated, and worried Hyean would die, but it wasn¡¯t like others cared as much about their Monster Cards. Most Cardists didn¡¯t care too much about their Monster Cards. In their eyes, Monster Cards were mere tools meant to empower Cardists. They were as valuable as the price they had to pay to acquire them. That was it. That was why the Beast King didn¡¯t care about the Gnoll Warlord. The Monster Card was not as valuable as someone¡¯s life. It was better to sacrifice a summoned Monster than someone else. Percy couldn¡¯t deny the Beast King¡¯s logic, but there was more to it in his case. The Monster Cards had been Ego-enhanced from scratch to keep up with him. Each Ego-enhancement bound them closer to Percy, creating a firmer connection to his soul. To Percy, the Monster Cards were far more than mere tools used to summon Monsters. They were part of him, literally. ¡°Let¡¯s get the children and leave this place,¡± Percy said, seeking distraction, only to remember something else, ¡°Did you know about the accessible mana vein under the Demon Lair?¡± The Beast King was high and mighty, pushing his chest out while striding to the children with a glimmer in his eyes when he heard Percy. ¡°A mana vein?¡± He spun around, the pride and happiness replaced by suspicion, ¡°The Beastlands have a mana vein to access, just like the Kainesh Kingdom. That shouldn¡¯t be a surprise¡­but you say there is a mana vein under this filthy place?¡± The Beast King approached Percy limbing, his facial features distorted in pain and his eyes narrowed to tiny slits. The adrenaline coursing through his body subsided slowly, forcing the Beast King to endure his body¡¯s pain and soreness. ¡°The Demons knew about that. They didn¡¯t come here for the children. They came for the mana vein, didn¡¯t they?¡± Percy couldn¡¯t be certain, but that would have been his guess as well. He nodded. ¡°They must have had plans with the children as well, but it might have been an experiment while they do¡­I don¡¯t know what the Demons have been doing here. All I know is that¨C...¡± Percy was interrupted as a deep, eerily cold rumbling rang through the cavern hall. First, more cavern tunnels collapsed ¨C their way to the deepest part of the Demon Lair was now blocked ¨C, and something in the hall¡¯s center stirred. The Demon Lord¡¯s corpse twitched. The Beast King was the first to react. He walked ahead, blocking the Demon Lord¡¯s view of the children behind, ready to sacrifice his worn and torn body if needed. Percy grasped Dragon Fang tightly and listened to his churning blood. However, it was his Abomination that responded by writhing and wiggling in discomfort. Percy instantly recognized what was going on. ¡°The Devil,¡± He whispered to the Beast King, who tensed up even more. The Beast King was out of mana, his stamina drained, and he couldn¡¯t move around well with severe injuries like this. He was far from his prime state. A high-pitched laughter, a giggling not unlike the Archyeas, rang out. It echoed through the cavern hall, its source seated in the center. The Demon Lord¡¯s corpse sat up straight. It didn¡¯t bother getting up from the ground simply because it was unnecessary. The presence gushing from the Demon Lord¡¯s carcass was terrifying, to say the least. Darkness oozed from its body, cracking the crimson carapace and engulfing the corpse in darkness until it looked nothing like the Demon Lord of the Minos.This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. ¡°It looks like I was a little bit impatient,¡± A familiar voice spurted out of the Demon Lord¡¯s lips. It was the same voice Percy recalled from his nightmares, ¡°But patience was never something I was good at.¡± He suppressed the trace of regret and drowned it with an arrogant laughter, much deeper this time. ¡°But that doesn¡¯t matter anymore. It¡¯s already too late. Way too late! You cannot do anything to stop my descent,¡± The Devil roared, his endless hunger filling the entire hall. The cave survived the fight between the Beast King and the Demon Lord, but the endless hunger seeping into the tiny cracks in the stone all around the hall was too potent. The cave tremored, and the cracks expanded. ¡°Like always, your kin doesn¡¯t pay attention to what¡¯s truly important,¡± The Devil tried provoking Percy, but his mind was blank. Fear had taken root deep inside his heart, and he was too weak to subdue it, ¡°My puppets¡¯ deaths won¡¯t change anything. They did everything I wanted them to do. I know all I need to know.¡± ¡°You will all die!!¡± The Devil roared in the Demon Lord¡¯s body. As the Devil¡¯s words swept through the vicinity, the Demon Lord started disintegrating as more and more darkness and hunger burst out of him. Percy and the Beast King noticed that right away and were ready to make a move, but the rumbling behind them stopped both in their tracks. The Demon Lair was about to collapse, which was already bad enough for them, but there were also many innocent, demonified ¨C unconscious ¨C children behind them. The envoy would reach them soon if they weren¡¯t about to turn around to escape certain death, but the ceiling and cavern tunnels didn¡¯t care about that. They threatened to collapse at any moment, squashing and burying the defenseless children alive. The Beast King glanced at Percy briefly and nodded to the Demon Lord¡¯s corpse. ¡°He is all yours!¡± He roared before rushing to the children. He transformed into a flash, leaving behind a trail of blood as his wound tore open, but that sacrifice was necessary. The Beast King arrived amidst the group of unconscious demonified children, barely in time to crush several smaller rocks that would have crushed the defenseless children. Percy sighed in relief but tensed up again when the Abomination wiggled again. This time, however, the Abomination was¡­excited? He looked at the Demon Lord, whose carcass was still possessed by the Devil, shrouded in the Devil¡¯s power, and smiled as he reciprocated the Abomination¡¯s excitement. [Demon Lord(Lord of Minos) ¨C Demonic/Titled/Devil¡¯s Possession ¨C 231,834,911 Prosperity.] His hair stood up to its end as Percy called upon the Abomination. He took a deep breath as his lips parted and said the only word that had to be said. ¡°[Consume]!¡± The Abomination didn¡¯t hesitate and burst out of his palms. Percy groaned in pain as far more darkness than usual shot out of him. His hands cracked and Percy wouldn¡¯t be surprised if his hands would be broken in dozens of spots after today. But he didn¡¯t care. His eyes glowed vibrantly as he allowed the Abomination to go wild. The streams of darkness gushing from his hands combined and enlarged, forming a monstrosity much larger than Percy ever expected the Abomination to be able to grow. However, the Abomination¡¯s size wasn¡¯t the only thing that had changed. It was faster than usual and appeared before the Demon Lord quickly. The Devil¡¯s laughter ceased, while the darkness wreathing the Demon Lord burst forward. They shot toward the Abomination as if trying to attack and destroy it, but it was to no avail. The Abomination¡¯s rows of razor-sharp teeth, dozens upon dozens, tore through the darkness, devouring it as it opened its maw wide enough to swallow the Demon Lord¡¯s carcass whole. The Demon Lord couldn¡¯t resist the Abomination. It was dead, incapable of doing anything, but the Devil wasn¡¯t the same. Bits of the Devil¡¯s power resided within the Demon Lord. It wasn¡¯t much, but it was massive compared to the Devil¡¯s Touched. Percy was no more than a mere human, whom the Devil had touched, but there was one major difference between Percy and the others who Devil¡¯s Touch had afflicted. His entire being had embraced Devil¡¯s Touch, consumed it, and transformed it into a part of him. Then he nourished it, over and over again. The Abomination wasn¡¯t what it used to be. It was faster, more durable, far stronger, and¡­hungrier than it used to be. The Devil roared one last time, unleashing his hunger and fury into the surroundings, but that was all he did. The darkness engulfing the Demon Lord''s corpse retracted suddenly after the Abomination devoured the first strands of darkness and pulled back. The Devil¡¯s presence disappeared as quickly as it appeared. B3 Chapter 43- Upgraded The remains of the Devil¡¯s power and the Demon Lord¡¯s corpse were far more potent than Percy had expected. However, he was the last to complain about something like that. The more potent his targets were, the greater the gains! [Demon Lord(Lord of Minos) has been consumed. 231,834,911 Prosperity has been added] [Your Tier increased by one rank.] The pair of notifications pleased Percy. Exposing the true identity of those behind the kidnappings and encountering the Devil multiple times in the Demon Lair had soured his mood, especially after seeing what happened to the children, but he never lost hope. Maybe it was possible to turn their misfortune into an advantage. A glimmer of hope was exactly what they needed, and they obtained exactly that. The two notifications were only the beginning. After the Demon Lord and the leftover fragments of the Devil had been digested, something else started to change. This wasn¡¯t about Percy directly, but it involved him. The Abomination was changing. The first thing he noticed about the Abomination was its expanding presence. Its presence within Percy had always been evident, but it was more potent¡­denser¡­than it used to be. The Abomination¡¯s body was more intense than before, and the air in its surroundings trembled violently. [Enough fragments of the Devil have been consumed. [Consume] has been upgraded. [Consume] transcended its designated limit.] [Your Ego¡¯s Ability [Consume] advanced to the next stage. Your bridge to the Ego and its Ability has reached new heights.] The Abomination was still under Percy¡¯s control but grew harder again. Not because the Abomination wanted to escape from his control. No. That wasn¡¯t it. The main issue was the Abomination¡¯s hunger. As it grew stronger, more efficient, better adjusted, more¡­its hunger expanded exponentially as well. What will happen once it grows even hungrier? What If I cannot satiate it anymore? Will the Abomination escape my control again? Various thoughts flashed through Percy¡¯s mind, but there was no answer. He would have to find out on his own at some point. ¡°Good job, kiddo,¡± The Beast King bellowed, ¡°But now come here and help me if you don¡¯t want to be buried alive!¡± Percy spun around and rushed to the tunnel entrance. The Demon Lord and the Devil¡¯s presence may not be there anymore, but they¡¯d done enough to destroy the Demon Lair. It would collapse soon. Percy reached the unconscious children but froze in his tracks when he saw red notifications pop up above the children. They weren¡¯t dead, yet it looked like his Ego didn¡¯t care anymore, to some extent, at least. ¡°This¡­is new¡­¡± He murmured, scooping up as many children as possible before shouting to the Beast King, ¡°Don¡¯t you have any Monster Cards?!¡± ¡°I awakened Ancient Powers,¡± The Beast King responded curtly before shapeshifting into a large winged lion. The Beast King was not in great shape, even in his beast form, but it had to be enough. Percy hurled as many unconscious children on the Beast King¡¯s back as possible before picking up a few more children to carry. They glanced back, ensuring they didn¡¯t forget anyone and rushed upward. They ignored a handful of Elite Demons as they traveled through two tunnels and were happy to locate the royal envoy of the Kainesh Kingdom and some Beastmen with them. A few Beastmen carried unconscious demonified Beastmen, whereas the rest dealt with a handful of Elite Demons. ¡°Turn around and leave!¡± Percy roared, and as if to amplify the importance of his words, the tunnel behind him and the Beast King collapsed. It sounded like thunder struck the ground right behind Percy as the walls caved in, and the ceiling crashed down right behind them. He instinctively went up a gear. Percy rushed past Melissa, the Imperials, and others, happy they were still alive, but urged them to move faster. It must have been only a few minutes before they reached the surface. They were forced to take a detour and return from a cavern tunnel that collapsed right before their eyes, but that was still better than getting crushed alive. Some demonified children regained consciousness on their way to the surface, yet they were back in the dreamworld before they could do anything when Percy shot a small ball of ice at them. The ice struck their temples, cleanly knocking them out. The group faltered back to the surface, and some nearly collapsed. Their ascend had been rather harsh, dozens of Demons attacking them by surprise. Fortunately, everyone survived, though far more Gifted had been injured than necessary. The Beast King reached the camp where Fiona and Beastmen Percy had never seen were waiting. ¡°The fourth Legion,¡± One of the heavily injured Beastman muttered, sighing in relief before collapsing to the ground the instant he reached the camp. Percy discovered a peaceful smile on the Beastman¡¯s smile. They must be the real deal if he can collapse with a smile on his lips. Percy looked around the camp. It had been tranquil before their arrival, even though most members of the seventh Beast Legion were already present. Everyone stopped what they were doing when they heard the commotion. The Demon Lair¡¯s massive entrance collapsed, sealing the Demon¡¯s hideout once and for all.Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work! However, the Beastmen¡¯s attention lingered on their king. The Beast King walked slowly through the camp until he reached the center. He lowered his body and commanded his subjects to take the children and mend their wounds. His legs caved in when he attempted to get up again, but he continued. The Beast King couldn¡¯t afford to look weak before his folk. He roared quietly but with tremendous power, which must have drained him tremendously, but the effect was great. The Beastmen fell to one knee and mumbled something in a foreign language. Percy listened and waited, watching the Beastmen of the 4th Legion as they got up again. Some approached the Beast King, while others turned to the injured Beastmen. They mended their wounds, using their Cardist powers, Egos, or the Ancient Powers they¡¯d manifested through their bloodline. ¡°Ancient Powers are an interesting thing, don¡¯t you think?¡± Melissa walked up to Percy. She was battered black and blue, and parts of her body were frozen. She strained her Ego and her body. But she seems stronger now. Did they defeat a Greater Demon? Percy wondered, his attention lingering on the envoy members. Everyone was still alive, but some didn¡¯t look better than the best-looking Undead. Their eyes were dim, black rings highlighting them, and their faces looked like they either lost too much blood or they were still shell-shocked from what they¡¯d experienced. ¡°I¡¯m satisfied being a Cardist and an Ego. There is no need to be a Mythic as well. I¡¯d rather not seal my Card Slots to awaken an Ancient Power,¡± Percy responded with a shrug while reaching out to Melissa¡¯s shoulder. He grasped her gently, smiled at her, and channeled pure mana into her half-frozen mana paths. ¡°Thanks¡­¡± She murmured barely audibly. Her half-frozen legs cracked and nearly caved in, but she didn¡¯t collapse. She endured it until the Mythics of the Beastmen reached her and the rest of the envoy. A few collapsed to the ground when the Mythics¡¯ power reached them. It was almost like their bodies recognized that they would survive when the Mythics arrived before them, allowing the bodies to shut off. Percy was also exhausted, and there were remnants of his injuries, but he was much better off than the rest. He stood there, waiting until the Mythics told him everyone would survive, watching the Beastmen and Humans as they talked and tended to each other. It was a pleasant sight. He was invested in the scenery unfolding before and around him and didn¡¯t even notice Fiona when she arrived next to him. She was exhausted but had noticed an oddity in the camp. ¡°You have grown stronger,¡± Fiona mentioned, and Percy turned around to greet her. However, before he could say something, she added, ¡°But something about you has changed. Your soul has been harmed, and the presence of your Ego is stronger. [Danger Sense] has been triggered several times when I walked past you.¡± Percy raised an eyebrow, ¡°This Augmentation of yours is quite wise. My Ego is stronger and more dangerous than before. But it is also more helpful than it used to be¡­I think.¡± He ruffled through his hair. There was still a theory he had to confirm, but Percy was certain it would work out as intended. ¡°As for my soul. The Gnoll Warlord, my first Monster Card and the Monster Card with the strongest bond to my soul has been injured. It¡¯s on the verge of death, which is probably why my Soul is injured,¡± Percy explained. ¡°That¡­is not what I expected,¡± Fiona replied honestly, ¡°But summon the Monster and leave it to me. I will mend it.¡± Percy didn¡¯t hesitate and summoned the Gnoll Warlord. Fiona¡¯s milky-white eyes narrowed, and her mana network tensed up. ¡°Your bond is very strong. It is probably stronger than anything I¡¯ve seen.¡± ¡°Can you heal Hyean?¡± Percy asked rather than responding to Fiona. ¡°He is lethally wounded, but I think I can save him. His heart wasn¡¯t pierced, so that¡¯s that,¡± Fiona nodded, ¡°But make sure you don¡¯t use this Card too often for a while. If you abuse it too much, or it sustains another injury like this in the next few months, you may not only end up destroying the Monster Card but crack your soul and injure it permanently.¡± That wasn¡¯t a surprise to Percy. He thanked Fiona, relayed a few words and images of support, and turned away when Fiona mentioned she would need time and full focus on this. Leaving Hyean like this didn¡¯t feel great, but Percy had more than enough things to do. He called for Blue, who forwarded images of the Beastlands¡¯ forests. Images without any Demons. There are no escapees? That¡¯s good. Very good! The only escapees were the demonified children and Beastmen. However, Percy hoped he could help them somehow. Some, at least. There was still the mystery of the red notifications after all. Percy searched for the demonified children, which took only a few minutes to verify what he¡¯d seen. [Phebos Plain(Tigerfolk) ¨C Cub/Demonified(32%) ¨C 5210(4753) Prosperity.] The percentage was lower before. It¡¯s progressing. There was no time to waste. He looked at the Beastman Mythic, who was seriously tending to the child in the infirmary dead. ¡°I think I can rescue them as long as the demonification hasn¡¯t progressed too much.¡± ¡°You might have helped us, but that doesn¡¯t mean I trust you, human.¡± The Mythics replied sharply, ¡°I ¨C No. We do not trust your likes. There is no honor or pride in your kind! Only greed, death, and destruction.¡± Percy didn¡¯t know how to respond. All he wanted to do was to help. But if they didn¡¯t want his help, Percy wouldn¡¯t force them. The Mythic¡¯s hatred toward Humans might be reasonable. There had been a war with the Beastlands, several wars if one looked at the last century''s history, but Percy didn¡¯t think it was good to embrace their hatred. At this moment, the Mythic¡¯s hatred and distrust may cost the demonified children¡¯s lives. ¡°Let him try,¡± Another Mythic, a Lion-type Beastman of age, commented, ¡°You said you cannot help them anymore. I agree with that. The Demonic Essence is taking root within the children. We do not have the power to cleanse the Demonic Essence and return the children what they¡¯ve lost. Not without breaking them.¡± The elderly Beastman pointed at Percy, ¡°He came with the king. The king has praised him, telling everyone about his life and the children. If this human thinks he can help the children, he should try.¡± Percy smiled at the Beastman and nodded slowly. He took a deep breath, used [Consume], and pressed his hand flat on the boy¡¯s chest, mostly to hide the eerie darkness of the Abomination as it gushed out of him, but also to scan the boy¡¯s body. He had to find where the Demonic Essence had taken root and how to guide the Abomination through the boy without injuring him. The Abomination listened. It moved efficiently and followed his commands at will. It reached the Demonic Essence, engulfed it, and devoured it without harming the boy once [Demonic Essence has been consumed. 4753 Prosperity has been consumed.] Yes!! B3 Chapter 44 - Interlude: Descend The streams of mana flickered violently, trying to escape the darkness pursuing it. It wiggled and writhed desperately, but it was to no avail. The corruption had already spread too far. Too long. It couldn¡¯t be stopped anymore. It¡­was everywhere. A big mass of darkness clinged onto the wide streams of mana, its tendrils reaching out to the massive river hidden from the mortals¡¯ eyes. It infested the mana, devoured it, tarnished everything it touched, and expanded quickly. The mass looked like the spot Percy saw in the Beastlands¡¯ mana vein before. It looked the same and had the same functions, but it wasn¡¯t the same. The darkness wasn¡¯t in the Beastlands, yet it could be found not too far away. If it hadn¡¯t been too late already. The darkness had been nourished for a long time, right before mankind¡¯s eyes, yet too obvious to be discovered. It trembled violently and split open. The darkness spread out explosively, creating ripples in the stale air as it cut through the fabric of space and reality. The darkness bubbled, burst, and expanded until it filled the gloomy cave. It calmed down and stopped moving, stabilizing as the darkness in its center was replaced by something else. Boiling lakes filled with lava and magma flowing out of massive ponds replaced the gloomy darkness. Tendrils of darkness swept around, thrashing the Demons kneeling before a gargantuan obsidian throne. A great creature sat atop the obsidian throne, the most remarkable piece of furniture in the cold and empty palace. The palace occupied an entire mountain and seemed to be alive. Shadowy tendrils bursting in all directions, swallowing everything in their path, yet most shadows wreathed the creature sitting on the throne. The shadows shifted, gathered, and compressed around the creature, seemingly forming an armor. Upon discovering the other side of the portal made of darkness, the creature got up from the throne. Its red, almost crimson, eyes glowed dangerously, its excitement overwhelming the Demons kneeling around it. The Demons¡¯ lifeforce drained rapidly as the creature walked past them, but it didn¡¯t pay any attention to them, even after the collapsed dead to the throne hall¡¯s grounds. A tendril of darkness burst out of the creature, swallowing the carcass whole. Nobody paid attention to it, even as a deafening crunch resounded. ¡°Disgusting,¡± An eerily cold voice rang out as the creature approached the portal. The darkness around its legs wiggled and expanded uncontrollably as it strode forward, but the creature didn¡¯t seem to care. It was still far from its former peak, but the Seven Hells weren¡¯t enough anymore. The Seven Hells had never been enough. This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. The mortal realm was much better¡­tastier¡­ The creature¡¯s red eyes glowed even more vibrantly. It released a wave of darkness, stirring the Demons hibernating across its domain awake. ¡°Prepare for the final battle,¡± it hissed to the creatures of its domain. It arrived before the portal, studied it for a moment, and stepped through it ever so slowly. Your time will come.¡± ¡­ The portal distorted, black lightning bursting in all directions, melting through the stone around them. It expanded by force as the first foot of the creature emerged on the other side and tore apart once the rest of the creature¡¯s body followed. A hoarse laugh escaped the creature¡¯s lips. It looked around, darkness and hunger filling every inch in a range of hundreds of meters. ¡°Perfect,¡± The creature muttered, its words powerful enough to crack the ground underfoot. The portal behind the creature shut tightly, and the river of mana dimmed. It couldn¡¯t be accessed anymore. ¡°That¡¯s a shame,¡± The creature tilted its head but conceded with a simple shrug, ¡°Whatever.¡± It had succeeded. At last, he had returned to the mortal realm. The Devil had returned¡­and he was hungry. *** The Devil reached the surface within minutes. His pitch-black skin stretched thin with every move, and darkness oozing out of him tainted mana and all life in its wake. He emerged in a large man-made hall blocked by massive steel gates. Dozens of minuscule runic enchantments appeared in his view, but the Devil snorted in disgust. ¡°Pathetic.¡± His scaled tail swept across the stone floor and smashed heavily into the steel gate, ripping it out of its hinges in one go. The runic steel gates crashed heavily into the opposite wall while the Devil adjusted his size to walk through the gates. He found a flight of stairs to the first floor and walked upstairs without care. The scent of death, both Demons and humans must have died there some time ago, but the Devil just smiled. He was back. Nothing else mattered at this point. At last, he reached the surface for good. The Devil arrived amidst abandoned ruins, the remnants of Demonic Essence and death still apparent. The Devil waved his arms, and tens of glistening crimson marbles emerged from the darkness. The marbles were well-nourished Infernal Lair Seeds, and the Devil was in the Moonlight Forest, where enough prey was waiting to be hunted and devoured. ¡°Come out,¡± The Devil called out, the Infernal Lair Seeds burst apart, forming portals to the Seven Hells. ¡°Conquer the Moonlight Forest¡­¡± The Devil roared, the first Demons emerging from the Infernal Lair. ¡°Then we conquer the mortal realm!¡± B3 Chapter 45 - Lesson Percy tried to consume the Demonic Essence coursing through the children, but rescue came too late for some of them. Once the Demonic Essence nestled in the children, consuming their mana and altering their mana reservoir permanently, the demonified couldn¡¯t be salvaged. I want to free all of them. Can you not¡­ Percy was drenched in cold sweat. The Abomination wasn¡¯t known for consuming his mana, let alone his lifeforce, but something was different about the red notifications. Using [Consume] on them drained him. His head was heavy, his sight was blurred, and his legs caved in after he reached the last child. It was a young feline, a child with fluffy ears and a tail jutting from her tailbone. She once had silver hair, probably bright and shimmering, but now it was dark and dirty. [Feri Thain(Pantherfolk) ¨C Cub/Demonified(100%) ¨C 6911 Prosperity.] ¡°Too late¡­¡± Percy groaned, his voice filled with guilt and sadness, ¡°I was too late¡­¡± His legs gave in at last, and he slumped to the ground before the young girl. ¡°Human!¡± The Mythic Healers exclaimed in unison. They rushed to him and helped him up. Their eyes, filled with worry, studied Percy intently, trying to gauge how they could have misunderstood this Human. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± He groaned. ¡°There is nothing to apologize for, human. You achieved a lot more than we¡¯re capable of,¡± The elderly Mythic said reassuringly, nudging the younger Beastman to add something, ¡°Yes¡­Yes, you did a lot. We wouldn¡¯t have been able to¡­ to save as many as you saved in no time. You¡­You did great¡­¡± The younger Healer of the Beastmen struggled to praise Percy and didn¡¯t make eye contact with him, but the more the Beastman hesitated to praise him, the better Percy felt. Someone who loathed humans reassured him that he had achieved much more than they could. That would have been great if not for the bitter fact that he couldn¡¯t rescue everyone. It¡¯s just like my grandfather said. One of the most important lessons of the powerful is¡­ He took a deep breath. You cannot protect everyone¡­ All that strength merely allows me to protect more people than before. The stronger I am, the more people I can protect. The Abomination¡¯s upgrade to the next stage was the best example. Percy didn¡¯t have the means to rescue anyone before. Removing the Demonic Essence that had yet to fully fuse with the demonified was only possible after the Abomination reached the next stage. It was only possible after he ¨C his Ego/Abomination ¨C grew stronger. Percy understood his grandfather¡¯s words. He knew they were the bitter truth and that he wasn¡¯t at fault for being unable to rescue everyone. Suddenly, linen blocking the infirmary¡¯s entrance was pushed aside, nearly torn into shreds, as the towering figure of the Beast King barged inside. Several Mythics hurried behind the Beast King, urging him to stop moving and to stay calm, but it was already too late. The wounds they had just tended to ripped open again. Blood trickled down the Beast King¡¯s body as he reached the children. Only two had regained consciousness since the demonification had been removed. They sat up straight and didn¡¯t make a sound as the Mythic Healers examined them. The examination didn¡¯t take long, but the children didn¡¯t leave or make a move to ramble and cause chaos even after the adults told them they would be fine. Their eyes were dull, their minds more damaged than their bodies. ¡°I heard someone saved the children,¡± the Beast King¡¯s rumbling voice rang out, and he instinctively looked to Percy, whose wet hair clung desperately onto his deadly pale face. ¡°You removed the Demonic Essence?¡± Percy¡¯s lips parted, but the elderly Mythics was the first to speak up, ¡°He saved them. The energy corrupting the children was removed by this Human!¡±If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. The Beast King stared intently at Percy, whose expression was distorted in dissatisfaction and sadness. ¡°Why are you sad then?¡± ¡°I couldn¡¯t save all of them,¡± Percy murmured, walking over to the fully demonified child again to use [Consume] a second time. He pressed his hands on the child¡¯s stomach, hoping a different spot would change everything. But it didn¡¯t. The Abomination stirred in retaliation and consumed something within him instead. He backpedaled and swayed to the sides in exhaustion while the Mythics and Beast King stared at him. Even the Mythics tending to the Beast King¡¯s wounds had stopped to look at him. ¡°He cares¡­¡± One of them mumbled, the confusion in the Beastman¡¯s voice apparent, ¡°A human cares for¡­¡± ¡°Us,¡± Another Mythic added, equally confused as Percy returned a third time to the child, his expression distorted in pain and exhaustion. He was unwilling to give up even though he knew what was about to happen. Percy didn¡¯t know how much time had passed, but the Beast King grasped his shoulders tightly at some point, stopping him from approaching the demonified children in the infirmary. ¡°You did everything you could,¡± A trace of sadness lingered in his voice, but it was suppressed by the gratitude fueling the Beast King, ¡°Thank you, Percy. My people¡­I¡­we owe you, crown prince!¡± *** The following days were exhausting. Melissa and the rest of the royal envoy wished to finish their mission to leave the Beastlands again, but the Beast King was busy with more pressing tasks. He didn¡¯t have any time and attention to spare to renegotiate their peace treaty. Even though the Demon Lair was no longer there, the Beastmen were still furious. Their rage didn¡¯t extinguish just yet, but maybe that would never be the case. Therefore, they tackled the remains of the collapsed Demon Lair. They freed the tunnels again and cleared them with the help of their underground shapeshifters. The Beastmen had a tribe of Molefolk as well. They could shapeshift into moles. Some were Mutants with steel-like claws once they had morphed into moles, whereas others were given metal gloves to put over their claws. The moles dug through stone almost as fast as they could remove dirt. They cleared the tunnels and collected all Demon carcasses. Then, the Beastmen used everything they could to find those Demons who¡¯d survived the Demon Lair¡¯s collapse. Fortunately, that wasn¡¯t further difficult. There had only been one entrance to the Demon Lair, so no Demon escaped. They were all either killed by the invading forces, the collapsing tunnels, or by those who thirsted for their blood to take revenge. Percy understood the Beastmen¡¯s rage but would have loved to finish his business in the Beastlands as soon as possible. The longer he stayed in the Beastlands, the worse he felt about being unable to rescue the remaining demonified children. He met the children whom he¡¯d rescued a few times. They visited and thanked him for everything, but seeing them made everything worse. All Percy could think about was the children he couldn¡¯t save. He knew it was foolish to think like that because he gave his utmost to rescue as many as possible, but his mind didn¡¯t give him peace. On the contrary, it tormented Percy, telling him he was weak. Useless. Pathetic. He sought distraction and descended the mole tunnels to check the mana vein. Telling Melissa and Fiona about the mana vein and his suspicion hadn¡¯t been helpful. The heiresses were certain something was wrong with the Demons and agreed with his point of view. They were certain the Demons used the open mana veins for something. Melissa immediately messaged her father and requested the Reeze Duke to tell Baron Levian Darkai about their worries. Bringing foreign forces into another noble¡¯s territory without permission was forbidden, yet Baron Levian Darkai only allowed others to enter his lands during Imperial training. That was also why nobody except the Baron had been in the Moonlight Forest, checking up on the open mana vein in the forest since the Imperial training ended early. Percy was unsure what to think of Baron Levian Darkai since he¡¯d never met him, but one thing was sure: The Baron loved money even more than Percy. His highest priority was to earn a fortune, no matter how much danger the Kainesh Kingdom was exposed to. He demanded a fortune from the Reeze Duke to allow his Glacia Knights in the Moonlight Forest. Fortunately, the crown intercepted and forced the Baron to check out the Moonlight Forest¡¯s mana vein. That had been several days ago, but the royal envoy had yet to receive an update. Percy didn¡¯t focus on the mana vein in the Moonlight Forest. Melissa could inquire for more intel while Percy was busy checking on the mana vein underneath the Beastlands. He returned to the deepest part of the Demon Lair, where he found the mana vein. While others could only see small streams of the purest mana that was on the verge of liquifying, Percy could see everything even without his Augmentation. Unfortunately, what he saw wasn¡¯t pleasant. The mana vein is weaker and dimmer than before. Others might not have noticed it¡­maybe I wouldn¡¯t have noticed it either under normal circumstances but with [Hawk Eyes] active, it is obvious. The dark mass was no more, which Percy would have considered as an advantage, but the Abomination roared restlessly inside him. Something was off. Something was terribly wrong. B3 Chapter 46 - Suspicion It took almost ten days before the Beast King was ready for negotiations. Clearing the Demon Lair had been rather easy, in theory, at least. The only issue was the Demon Lair¡¯s size. Nobody expected the cavern network to be so extensive. Not only was it much deeper than expected ¨C Percy only realized the lair¡¯s depth after he went down a second time ¨C but there were also hundreds of tunnels stretching far and wide. The Beastmen, the Beast King ahead of everyone, were unwilling to leave a single tunnel unturned. They were adamant about unraveling everything, collecting every Demon carcass to burn the tarnished existences once and for all. Their fury pushed them to move forward, but the Beastmen didn¡¯t stop thinking rationally. They understood how dangerous the Demons¡¯ presence was and how much Demon carcasses could harm the land if left behind. The royal envoy was fine with that. They had nothing against the Beastmen cleaning. However, the underlying problem was that the royal envoy had better things to do than stay in the camp and train. Training was great, and having some time off from battling Demons was great, too. The Gnoll Warlord was healed, and Percy didn¡¯t have to go easy on him anymore. Still, the news they heard from the Kainesh Kingdom wasn¡¯t pleasant. Demon sightings increased drastically compared to two weeks ago. Reports stated that the Meiso Plains were in great danger of being overrun by Demons in the following weeks. That was tragic, but it got worse. The Glacia Knight Order found the Moonlight Forest overflowing with demons. The Order killed countless Demons, hundreds upon hundreds, according to the reports, yet the flood of Demons gushing out of the Moonlight Forest never ceased. The land was dying. It was corrupted, and all life was drained and afflicted by the Demons¡¯ presence. ¡°Why do we have to wait here doing nothing while our people are dying?¡± Melissa Reeze roared. Her fist smashed on a makeshift table, smashing it apart in one go. It was the 14th table she¡¯d destroyed since news of the Glacia Knight Order failed their mission to secure the Moonlight Forest¡¯s mana vein. A handful of good men from the Glacia Knight Order died fighting the Demons of the Moonlight Forest. They retreated but failed to protect everyone. Some of the men who¡¯d been killed had been with Melissa since the day she was born. She had been around them her whole life. But now¡­ Now, some of them were dead, ripped apart by Demons. ¡°Baron Levian Darkai shouldn¡¯t have blocked us for so long. He is too full of himself. So what if he is an Ascended? If he cannot do his job, he might as well be an Elite or a Normie for all I care!¡± ¡°The Baron was angry because the Minister of Finances denied his reimbursement of the Wintermoon Estate,¡± One of the younger nobles, a merchant¡¯s child, responded. He looked around and noticed everyone paying attention to him, their gazes urging him to keep going. He cleared his throat and added, ¡°The Minister of Finances demanded proof that Baron Darkai used the crown¡¯s funding to maintain the Wintermoon Estate and the Demon Ward. Apparently, Baron Darkai didn¡¯t do that. Instead, he started spreading rumors, saying that the crown betrayed their loyal Gifted, who had risked their lives for the kingdom¡¯s sake in the past. It¡­is a little bit more complicated than that, and I don¡¯t know everything. My father didn¡¯t tell me everything he¡¯d heard saying Baron Darkai is a greedy bastard, a commoner cretin who never deserved to possess this much power¡­but the gist of it is simple.¡± Percy sighed, but the young merchant''s son wasn¡¯t done yet. ¡°To put it simply, the Minister of Finances demanded proof of his expenses, but the Baron didn¡¯t give any proof, which is why the Minister of Finances didn¡¯t receive any more funding. There was supposed to be a case at the High Court, but Baron Darkai left the capital after the crown forced him to allow the Glacia Knight Order inside the Moonlight Forest to secure the mana vein¡­which failed.¡± The young man glanced at Melissa, whose cheeks were rosy in anger. ¡°The Baron was tasked to cleanse the Moonlight Forest again, but he didn¡¯t do that, or did he?¡± Percy asked as he recalled something, ¡°I read a little bit about the Moonlight Forest in the royal library, but something was odd. It was said there weren¡¯t too many powerful monsters at its outskirts since this Levian Darkai started cleansing the Moonlight Forest. But there were lots of monsters during the Imperial training, or am I mistaken?¡±This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. Melissa¡¯s eyebrows arched when Percy looked at her, ¡°I don¡¯t know¡­How am I supposed to know how many monsters we were supposed to encounter on the way to the Wintermoon Estate?¡± Percy frowned, but Melissa didn¡¯t notice that. ¡°Do you think¡­Is it possible Baron Darkai is in cahoots with¡­you know?¡± ¡°You think he works with the Devil?¡± Percy asked, his frown deepening. That didn¡¯t sound logical. If he was in cahoots with the Devil, he must be a Demonic Gifted like the other demonified humans they¡¯d encountered. But someone at the court and the royal palace should have noticed that. Or¡­is it necessary to be a demonified human to work with the Devil? He could have gained something in exchange for working with the Devil? But why would Baron Darkai do that? He is already powerful and has obtained a large piece of land for his achievements. There is no reason to betray the Kainesh Kingdom¡­or is there? ¡°That doesn¡¯t make any sense,¡± Fiona murmured, ¡°I didn¡¯t sense anything odd about him when I met him the first time years ago. He was a kind man. A bit talkative and calm for my taste and mannerless, but having a barbarian in the court was a nice change.¡± Another noble nodded with a smile on his lips, ¡°He talked a lot. That¡¯s for sure. Baron Darkai is different than the others at the court. He treats everyone nicely and talks like there is no tomorrow. He is very prideful and always speaks about his sudden rise in power. Something about him failing to grow stronger for a long time.¡± Percy¡¯s ears perked up, and Melissa glanced at him as well. They looked at each other, rage surfacing on Melissa¡¯s face. Percy had to intercept right away. ¡°We know nothing for sure. How about we consider Baron Darkai as a suspicious person, a possible suspect until we know more for sure? Until then¡­let¡¯s ensure we stay in top shape until the Beast King is ready for negotiations.¡± There were many troublesome points about the reports they¡¯d received from the border settlement. Greater Demons had been sighted, leading hordes of Elite and Lesser Demons. They had been repelled by the Glacia Knight Order and some Adventurers, but the hordes would return soon. The villages and towns near the Moonlight Forest were in chaos once the news reached them. There weren¡¯t any settlements right next to the Moonlight Forest, but that didn¡¯t mean the next-closest villages and towns felt safe and sound. Those who could afford it moved away from the Moonlight Forest. They moved as fast as they could afford and settled down, not without clinging to their fears and worries. That was bad, to say the least. The people showed signs of fear. They were afraid of the unknown future and had a hard time controlling their anxiety. What would happen to them now, and where were the kingdom¡¯s Pillars when they needed them? ¡°Our Orders are already gathering, and the Guild has been informed as well,¡± Percy mumbled, but he didn¡¯t think it was enough. This time, the Demons¡¯ attacks were much more than the average. This time, it was worse. The Demon Mark burned fiercely when Percy first heard about the Demon sightings near the Moonlight Forest. Of course, he could have been imagining things, but he didn¡¯t believe that to be the case. No. It was much worse than imagining something. It was the reality. ¡°Did the Devil descend already?¡± Everyone looked at Percy, some looking at him with fear and doubt, while others frowned deeply. But Percy looked at a spot far behind them. He ignored them, the corner of his lips curling up. At last, the Beast King arrived to renegotiate their peace treaty. ¡°Is that what that bastard meant when he said we were too late?¡± The Beast King asked instead of greeting them. ¡°You heard me?¡± Percy shrugged. It might be for the best if the Beast King heard them. ¡°We will have to leave soon. The kingdom is in danger, and we must help. There is no need for us to stay in the Beastlands any longer.¡± The Beast King nodded, ¡°That¡¯s true, but don¡¯t forget to consume the Demon carcasses before you leave. We might as well burn them if you don¡¯t want them.¡± ¡°No, I will take the corpses if you don¡¯t need them,¡± Percy nodded. That¡¯s a dozen million Prosperity or more for me. Nice. ¡°Let¡¯s get to business then,¡± The Beast King rumbled. ¡°Let the negotiation begin.¡± B3 Chapter 47 - Negotiations ¡°Did we just waste ten days for that?¡± Melissa asked, fuming in anger. The air around her was chilly, and tiny crystals formed around her as the Tundra Behemoth, Duke, traveled with fast strides through the Beastlands¡¯ forest. The Tundra Behemoth leaked, reciprocating Melissa¡¯s anger by conjuring larger ice crystals in the surroundings. The crystals dropped to the ground and melted, but the message was clear: Melissa was furious. ¡°I am also confused, angry even, but the result is all that matters, don¡¯t you think?¡± Fiona¡¯s Holy Triceratops was trodding next to Duke, though it was having difficulty following the Tundra Behemoth¡¯s massive strides. At last, the royal envoy had started their trip back to the Kainesh Kingdom. They were supposed to be satisfied since they completed their mission. However, Melissa and some nobles fumed in anger nonetheless. They had been pushed aside, forced to stay in the Beastlands much longer than necessary. After all, the negotiations ended less than ten minutes ago. No. The negotiation started less than ten minutes ago and ended after five minutes¡­Or was it only one minute later? Could they call their chat with the Beast King negotiations in the first place? It was utter nonsense. A waste of their precious time! Melissa was angry, yet a part of her was relieved as well. Even though the negotiations had been postponed repeatedly, the Beast King ended up giving them much better ¡®conditions¡¯ than they could have hoped for. ¡­ The Beast King arrived in the envoy¡¯s little camp ten minutes earlier. It hadn¡¯t been long since Percy finished his daily training routine, but he had had enough time to wash up, read the reports relayed from the border settlements again, and chat with the remaining members of the royal envoy before the Beast King joined them. ¡°It might not be easy to become friends. The Beastmen and Humans have been fighting for a long time, but I hope we can put our hatred aside to¨C...¡± Percy started, but the Beast King interrupted him rudely. ¡°I know what you¡¯re trying to say, and I agree. The Devil is dangerous. He might focus on the Kainesh Kingdom due to the sins of your race, but if we allow the Devil to regain his power by wreathing the Kainesh Kingdom in chaos and destruction, we will be the next. The Devil made clear that he doesn¡¯t want us to be allies,¡± He cleared his throat and stretched out his massive paw. ¡°That¡¯s why we will be allies for the upcoming war. The Apex have been very supportive of my decision. The Beast Legions will prepare for an all-out war with the Devil and join your fight when the time is ripe.¡± Percy stared starstruck at the Beast King, not a single word escaping his lips. ¡°But once the Devil dies, we will go our separate ways again. That is final!¡± He grumbled, turning around to leave again. The Devil was not only mankind¡¯s enemy. He was far from a mere national threat. No. The Devil, as weak as he may be now, was a threat to the mortal realm. Especially after the things the Devil¡¯s subjects had done to the children of the Beastlands, they were considered the Beastmen¡¯s enemies as well! Percy understood that sentiment. He had been hoping that it would come to this. That had been his deepest hope. Nonetheless, he didn¡¯t feel great that it had to come to this. ¡°Thank you¡­.and I¡¯m sorry for what happened to your people¡­and that it came to this. It would have been great if we had decided without all of this. If we could have rescued all of them, it would have been the best¡­¡± Percy was still living in regret. He had concluded, understanding that he gave his utmost ¨C much more than most would have done in his stead ¨C but a trace of regret still lingered in his chest. ¡°Are you still thinking about the children you couldn¡¯t save?¡± The Beast King asked lightly, ¡°Don¡¯t look at me like that. Your face says it all. I am also sad. I don¡¯t think of myself as cold-hearted, but we can do nothing about this situation. We saved as many as we could, removed the threat endangering the peace between the Beastlands and the Kainesh Kingdom, and we are trying, and will always be trying, to find solutions to help the demonified children.¡±If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. The Beast King shrugged, ¡°The demonified children are away and fueled by anger. We sent them to Mythics with suitable Ancient Powers to restrain them, hoping to teach the children how to control their demonic nature. It will be difficult, but it might work. If it doesn¡¯t work, we can always adjust our plans and develop something new.¡± He smiled at Percy, ¡°But I am glad you feel like this. It might sound cruel, but I am happy to see a human suffer so much for our sake.¡± Percy raised an eyebrow but didn¡¯t say anything. He couldn¡¯t. It felt like something stuck in his throat, forcing him to stay silent. ¡°Stay like this even after you ascend the throne and we¡­Nevermind. That is something we can talk about in the future. Maybe our paths will overlap then,¡± The Beast King smiled, slapping Percy¡¯s shoulder firmly, ¡°After we defeat the Devil.¡± *** Percy and the royal envoy weren¡¯t the only ones anxious about the sudden changes in the Moonlight Forest. The capital had been turned upside down. ¡°How long until the Kingsguard and Imperial are ready to depart?¡± The Minister of Defenses, a bald, chubby man, lacking a neck ¨C his double chin covered his short neck ¨C, roared into the royal palace¡¯s courtyard. Hundreds of maids and servants rushed through the courtyard, but only a handful paid attention to the Minister of Defenses. They were busy completing high-priority tasks for their masters. ¡°You¡¯re late,¡± The old Weaponmaster of the palace responded. He walked up to the Minister of Defenses, his expression distorted in distaint, ¡°The Kingsguard are already fully equipped, their Monster Cards replaced with the best Cards we could procure. The Imperials are also ready, though the Minister of Finances told us to wait. She hopes the crown prince will return in time to help with some upgrades.¡± ¡°This whore!¡± The Minister grumbled, pointing at the Weaponmaster with his sausage-like finger, ¡°Who gave her the right to make decisions regarding MY department?!¡± The Minister of Defense¡¯s face was red like a tomato. It was also as wide as one. ¡°The Imperials are to depart with the Kingsguard!! What are you standing here idly for either way?!? Forward my order. NOW!¡± The Weaponmaster¡¯s lips parted, but he closed them again, hinting at a bow, and walked off, following the Minister of Defenses command. The courtyard was already full of life but wasn¡¯t the only place overflowing with life and work. The Kingsguard and Imperials weren¡¯t the only military forces armed for war. They were only the tip of the iceberg, a massive iceberg, which was hopefully big enough to crush the impending dangers. The Knight Orders were also preparing for an all-out war. Everyone was. The Queen joined her mother¡¯s work in the Alchemy Lairs of the Dragon Nest, helping the Grandmaster Alchemist mass concocting high-quality potions but also teaching the young Alchemists of the Dragon Nest. They may not be the greatest force, but every potion, whether Basic or Advanced, could make a difference between life and death on the battlefield. The more potions the kingdom¡¯s forces had at their disposal, the more good people would survive. The King didn¡¯t join anyone. He was busy tending to the court, spreading news about the Devil¡¯s heinous actions into the surrounding kingdom, hoping to receive news of reinforcement. His hopes were slim, but the chance was there. Tending to the court didn¡¯t end there. The King revealed everything they knew about the Devil, his powers, and how they could deal with him to the Pillars of the kingdom after ordering them to ready their forces for the upcoming battle. Every Gifted of a certain strength, capable of wielding an Artifact without dying ¨C or endangering other Gifted ¨C was requested to join the battle against the impending doom. It was dangerous, and many good people would die, but it had to be done. The King couldn¡¯t remember when he last slept. Work and worries consumed his days, but they progressed, albeit too slowly for the King¡¯s liking. Last but not least, the Old King didn¡¯t hide away. He took the reins of the Dragon Nest, accessed some of the remaining funds he¡¯d hoarded, and purchased everything in Dragon¡¯s Lair and other shops that could be of use. However, the most useful was the Dragon Knight Order. The crown prince¡¯s Order expanded quickly, but that wasn¡¯t enough. Not if they were supposed to protect the heir to the throne against the Devil and his forces. ¡°We don¡¯t have enough time, do we?¡± The Old King muttered under his breath. He recalled how fast Percy had grown stronger and heard news of his achievements in the Beastlands, but that wasn¡¯t enough. Not even the Syreablade, a weapon forged from their first ancestor, would change their fate. ¡°He is strong, has the Syreablade, and awakened the Azure Dragon¡¯s blood. Only the first ancestor could do that¡­but that¡¯s not enough.¡± Worries plagued the Old King¡¯s mind day and night, but he had a solution. At least, he hoped the idea that formed in his mind would solve all problems. If not¡­ If not¡­they would have to find a different solution to salvage the Kingdom. B3 Chapter 48 - Returned ¡°Is it just me, or is this totally unexpected?¡± Imperial Mathis asked loud enough to be heard by everyone. They had been traveling silently for days, training their mana control and Egos if possible, but there was a weird tension in the air. ¡°What do you mean? That there hasn¡¯t been a Demon horde obstructing the way back to the capital or that our beloved crown prince has been absentminded and writhing in pain for the last two days?¡± Melissa responded with a light laughter, but it felt artificial. Lady Reeze couldn¡¯t hide how tense she was. No member of the royal envoy could. They may be on the way back to the capital, but everyone was certain they would depart soon to head to the Meiso Plains to join the remaining forces. ¡°We should have used the Portals,¡± A younger noble complained quietly, but Melissa retorted immediately, ¡°The crown occupies the Portals. They have already too little time to build a proper defense line. The Moonlight Forest is already as good as lost, and our chances of protecting the Milhorn Mountains are close to zero. The Meiso Plains is too wide, and the gaps between the villages and towns are too great to transform and use properly against the Demon Hordes.¡± ¡°That only applies if the Demons go against their instincts,¡± Fiona added slowly, ¡°Demons always go after the greatest sources of life. That¡¯s why the towns and villages, once manned with thousands of Gifted Ones, should be more than enough to pull the Demon hordes toward the towns and villages. The gap between the settlements shouldn¡¯t matter in that case.¡± Melissa looked at Fiona and sighed deeply, ¡°Normally, I would agree. I know you aren¡¯t wrong, but there is also the unknown variable¡­ The Devil emerged in the mortal realm. He can control the Demon Hordes, forcing them to pass by the settlements and the defenders IF we focus solely on defending the settlements. They won¡¯t lose a single Demon breaching our defenses and will reach the near-defenseless towns and cities in no time. That¡¯s why the crown decided to establish a different line of defense closer to the edge of the Meiso Plains.¡± She looked at the young noble, who had been complaining before, and added, ¡°That¡¯s why they need the Portals. They¡¯re already pressed on time as the stream of Demons emerging from the Moonlight Forest seemed to be increasing steadily. Establishing a defense line is one thing, but solidifying it and transforming it into an impregnatable line of defense is something completely different.¡± The noble, just like the rest of the envoy, sighed deeply. Fiona and Melissa could have continued their discussion but were too tired. It was tiresome to think about their families, worry about the future and the upcoming battles, and pray everything would work out as intended. Especially if they did all of that on top of discussing the next few steps of their plan, riding tirelessly through the Kainesh Kingdom, and long daily mana training sessions. Everyone was worried, but the only one who seemed somewhat calm was Percy. It was unexpected, but maybe Percy was too busy doing everything in his might to change the tides of fate to worry about the upcoming battle. He was busy abusing his body and Ego. [280,000,000 Prosperity has been consumed.] [Gnoll Warlord¡¯s Potential [Evolved ¨C???] has been upgraded to [Evolved ¨C?????].] [Glacial Roc¡¯s Potential [Evolved¨C???] has been upgraded to [Evolved ¨C?????].] [Gnoll Warlord¡¯s Augmentation [Master of the Blade??] has been upgraded to [Master of the Blade???] [Gnoll Warlord¡¯s Augmentation [Intermediate Strength Boost????] has been upgraded to [Advanced Strength Boost??].] [Glacial Roc¡¯s Augmentation [Hawk Eyes?????] has been upgraded to [Roc Eyes?].] [Glacial Roc¡¯s Augmentation [Cryomancy?] has been upgraded to [Cryomancy??].] [Glacial Roc¡¯s Augmentation [Intermediate Agility Boost] has been upgraded to [Advanced Agility Boost??].] Percy had been hesitant about upgrading his Monster Cards at first. He was certain their group would encounter several Demon Hordes after returning to the Kainesh Kingdom, but nothing like that happened. He was apprehensive in the first few days but decided upgrading his Monster Cards and Augmentations would be fine after that. If he had more Prosperity to spare, Percy would have unlocked more Augmentations and runic enchantments of the Syreablade, but even after the Abomination¡¯s power reached the next stage, which increased the potency of his Prosperity points, Percy didn¡¯t have enough to unlock more of Dragon Fang¡¯s power.The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. Instead, Percy focused on his slotted Cards. All of them. [4,621,852 Prosperity has been consumed.] [Capture Card¡¯s potential has been enhanced. The Mythical Card¡¯s capture rate increased slightly.] There is still only one thread to enhance, and the message is not changing, either. This is ridiculous. I have never seen anything like that. Percy was still writhing in pain, his body overly sensitive to all changes in the surroundings. His eyes burned like someone trickled droplets of searing lava into them, whereas his muscles behaved like someone tore them apart and meshed them together. Even his head hurt like there was no tomorrow. But that was something Percy should have expected when upgrading [Master of the Blade] and evolving [Hawk Eyes], [Intermediate Strength Boost], and [Intermediate Agility Boost] to the next-strongest version. Increasing an Augmentation¡¯s star rating was already intense, to put it simply. [Master of the Blade] forced a massive amount of information onto his mind when Percy upgraded it by one star. However, advancing [Hawk Eyes] to [Roc Eyes] and the two Boost Augmentations from Intermediate to Advanced was a lot worse. Under normal circumstances, Percy wouldn¡¯t have rushed it if it hadn¡¯t been for a Devil conquering the Moonlight Forest. He was bound to be busy in the capital, preparing for the final battle, and would hardly have enough time to upgrade his Monster Cards, let alone to give his body the time needed to adapt to the changes his upgraded Augmentations would cause to his body. He endured the pain, investing most of his fortune to empower his Monster Cards, whereas the Capture Card was given the leftovers¡­like usual. The Capture Card had only one golden-silverish thread to nourish. It was the same thread Percy had been nourishing now and then, increasing the Card¡¯s capture rate ¡®slightly¡¯. Whatever that¡¯s supposed to mean. What was a ¡®slight¡¯ increase? Was it 0.01%, or was it more like 1%? Or was the increase not measured in percentages? Percy had no idea, and it made him crazy. He had invested millions into the Capture Card¡¯s growth but was still unsure if it was worth it. There was no sign determining whether it was worth it or wasted Prosperity. Can I capture a Dragon that way? It¡¯s a Card of Mythical Quality. That should mean something. Even if I hadn¡¯t invested any Prosperity to augment it¡­the Card should be worth it. Percy knew instinctively how to use the Capture Card, and he could easily tell when to use it to increase his chances. After beating the Succubus black and blue, Percy felt a pull from the Capture Card. He felt the same pull whenever he weakened some monsters, or other creatures, indicating that his chance of capturing the creature reached its peak. Injuring a creature increases the chance of a successful hunt. Increasing the capture rate with Prosperity decreases the amount of damage I¡¯d have to inflict on a powerful monster to reach that threshold. So¡­ Theoretically¡­It should be possible to capture a pureblooded Dragon if, only IF, I nearly kill it. It would have to be close to death to succumb to the Capture Card¡­except if I increase the capture rate with more Prosperity. Percy smiled faintly. The thought of capturing a pureblooded Dragon wasn¡¯t too bad. It was worth dreaming about. And maybe, just maybe¡­the dream would turn into reality at some point. It should work out as long as he kept nurturing the Capture Card! *** ¡°Brother!!¡± Sophia squealed in excitement as the royal envoy arrived at the capital''s entrance gates. They barely passed through the gates when the Princess escaped her mother¡¯s grasp. She rushed to her brother with a vibrant smile on her lips, tears of happiness trickling down her cheeks. What a little crybaby. Percy mused, but he was unable to hide his vibrant smile. He swung his body across his horse¡¯s back and jumped to the ground. After landing softly, Percy squatted down and opened his arms just in time. Sophia leaped into his arms, embracing him tightly. Percy reciprocated the embrace and hugged her tightly for a good minute. ¡°I missed you!¡± Sophia¡¯s voice was like a pristine light in utter darkness. Everyone, including the bustling citizens working tirelessly to prepare for the inevitable, stopped in their tracks and looked at the scene unfolding in the middle of the main street. The tension tormenting Percy¡¯s body dispersed suddenly, leaving him free and happy. He got up with his little sister in his arms and smiled at the esteemed group welcoming them. The King and the Queen were present, but so was the Reeze Duke, the Head of the Imperials, and so forth. Percy would have felt great seeing everyone ¨C they had many tales to tell about the Beastlands and many things to discuss ¨C but the timing was not right. Everyone looked like they had long since surpassed the point of utter exhaustion. They went above and beyond and looked more dead than alive. At least nobody is injured. Percy glanced at the Head of the Imperial, who was covered in fresh demon blood, and winced. Did he come to pick up the Imperials? Or is he here for something else? The King stepped forward with a thin smile on his lips. ¡°I am glad everyone is fine. We were surprised to find out the truth about the ¡®kidnappers¡¯,¡± Phillip Kain said, ¡°But you all did a great job.¡± He looked at Percy, his smile growing. ¡°I¡¯m proud of you.¡± B3 Chapter 49 - Preparations The Imperial rushed to their leader with bright smiles and told him about their fights and everything they had to endure. They talked quickly, and their voices overlapped, making it too hard to listen to each of them. To think the Imperial would be this talkative. I don¡¯t think they talked this much on the entire trip. Percy was surprised and studied the Imperial Head. He had long golden hair, and his athletic build was hidden underneath the plated armor. His eyes were razor-sharp, but he looked kindly at the young Imperials. The Imperials must like him a lot. He seems to be a good guy. The Imperial Head raised his hand to stop the youngsters and turned to the King. ¡°I know you just reunited with your son, but I hope we won¡¯t have to wait too long for positive results. The situation at the front is still manageable, but it will change soon. Our enemy¡¯s patience runs thin. He has been waiting too long already, Your Majesty.¡± ¡°I know,¡± King Phillip nodded understandably, patting his friend¡¯s shoulder firmly, ¡°It will be ready soon. We won¡¯t waste any time.¡± The Imperial Head nodded curtly, gestured the young Imperials to follow him, and disappeared into the bustling street. ¡°He has to return to the frontlines. It¡¯s just like he said. The Demon Hordes might be massive, but they¡¯re still manageable,¡± Phillip Kain looked at his son, ¡°But there are many Lesser Demons and Elite Demons, and it is difficult to kill a flood of dozens of demons before they reach you. The Imperials are doing great, but they have sustained considerable damage. No Imperial has died¡­but it is only a matter of time.¡± He smiled apologetically as he continued, ¡°They requested Ego-enhanced Cards. The Imperial Head studied all information about Mathis¡¯ Ego more intently after we received Melissa¡¯s reports, which also mentioned [Purge]¡¯s effectiveness against demonic creatures, and decided to recreate it. He has been busy in the royal library¡­and basically every other library searching for Beastariums to study after he heard what the Minister of Finances attempted to do¡­using Monster Cards and your Ego.¡± Percy understood what his father was getting at, ¡°He¡¯s looking for Monsters powers suitable to counter Demons. Imperial Mathis told me privately that nobody considered his Ego powerful. Even he was certain Purge wasn¡¯t good for anything but to remove curses and specific diseases. But since that¡¯s not the case¡­¡± ¡°The Imperial Head has been looking for powers revolving around purification, light, and lunar powers. The latter is something he included after reading something interesting in old scriptures. Apparently, Demons are weak to moonlight. They seem to be weaker during a full moon,¡± Phillip completed with a smile. ¡°Did he find something useful?¡± The King¡¯s smile cracked this time, ¡°He did find something. And they would have hunted the monster already¡­if it wasn¡¯t primarily found in the Moonlight Forest.¡± That was bad. ¡°We found some suitable Cards, but they aren¡¯t perfect. To be honest, they¡¯re far from perfect,¡± The King winced, while Paul Reeze stepped forward, patting King Phillip¡¯s shoulder, ¡°But that should be fine. We don¡¯t need anything perfect as long as we can cover up for the lack of perfection with your Ego.¡± He winked at Percy, who nodded slowly in agreement. ¡°Since you can evolve Monster Cards, it shouldn¡¯t be a problem. It might be perfect since the Monster Cards we acquired in the last few weeks belong to a sub-race of the Lunar Wolf. At least, that¡¯s what this kind of inferior monster had been once, several hundred years ago, before we captured it.¡± Percy was now frowning deeply. What in the seven hells was the Duke talking about? ¡°You aren¡¯t talking about a domesticated¡ª...¡± Percy couldn¡¯t finish his sentence before the Reeze Duke approached him with a stack of Monster Cards. [Monster Card(Silverheart Hound) ¨C Mature ¨C 752 Prosperity.] It was the first time Percy saw a Monster Card this cheap, but what else should he have expected from a domesticated monster? ¡°I never heard of the SIlverheart Hound,¡± He mumbled, which was the Queen¡¯s cue to join the conversation. ¡°The Silverheart Hound barely possesses any mana. All its mana, motes of lunar energy, are gathered in its heart, but that¡¯s about it. Silverheart Hounds are considered pets because they¡¯re weaker than most monsters and easy to control. Still, sometimes they form Monster Cards when they die, which some nobles use to keep their beloved pet close to their heart,¡± She explained seriously, ¡°Quite literally. Some replace their Monster Cards with their pets even though Silverheart Hounds don¡¯t awaken any Augmentations. They¡¯re barely monster enough to transform into Monster Cards at times.¡± Percy looked at the stash of Silverheart Hounds and then at his father, who shrugged, ¡°We paid a fair price to everyone willing to sell them and confiscated the rest. The kingdom¡¯s survival is more important than some sentiments.¡±The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement. ¡°Tell that to my friends. They¡¯ve been cursing you behind your back,¡± The Queen clicked her tongue. ¡°You know better than anyone that these idiots are not your friends,¡± The King retorted, which earned him a glare from the queen. Percy cleared his throat to attract his parents¡¯ attention before they could engage in a full-blown fight in the middle of the main street where everyone would see them. ¡°I don¡¯t have any Prosperity left to enhance them, otherwise, I would have done it right away,¡± He said while recalling something important, ¡°That might be a slight diversion of the topic, but I hope the Kingsguard and Imperials didn¡¯t burn the Demon carcasses.¡± The royal couple turned to him, the Queen snickering after stealing a deadly glare at the King,¡± The Minister of Finances made sure to tell everyone dozens of times that every Demon corpse has to be collected. Some were probably burned in battle, but most Demon carcasses have been collected and put aside for you.¡± ¡°Nice!¡± Percy gave his mother a thumbs-up, to which she responded by flicking his forehead. He winced, but the smile didn¡¯t cease. ¡°If you¡¯re not too tired to Ego-enhance the Silverheart Hounds, we should do it immediately. The Imperials will be happy to fight the Demon Hordes more efficiently,¡± Phillip said, gesturing to Percy to follow him. The Queen looked at the others and motioned to them as well. ¡°Dine with us tonight. I¡¯m curious what you guys went through in the last few weeks,¡± She glanced at Percy for a moment and Sophia, who was playing with Percy¡¯s messy hair and added, ¡°And don¡¯t leave out a single detail. I want to hear everything!¡± The remaining members of the royal envoy looked at each other and swallowed hard. Their eyes lingered the longest on Melissa, who paled ever so slightly. *** Percy didn¡¯t wash up quickly. He hadn¡¯t seen a shower for weeks. Since they left the capital, no member of the royal envoy had the time, let alone the opportunity, to shower. They expelled the impurities and dirt sticking to their bodies by covering their skin with mana before flushing it away. That was enough to remove the sweat and grime sticking to their bodies, but it didn¡¯t remove the dirt smudging their clothes. They felt filthy nonetheless. Thus, they deserved a lengthy bath. The servants prepared a warm bath for everyone. To Percy, who never bothered bathing as it had either been too expensive or too much of a waste of time, it was a pleasant experience. The water wreathed his body, the warmth releasing the tension and stress of the last few weeks. Percy was alone in his bathroom, his head leaning on the bathtub¡¯s edge, his eyes shut tightly. I wish I could sleep for a few weeks. Resting for a while¡­would be great. The corners of his lips tilted upward, but profound sadness was hidden in his features. No matter how he looked at it, there was no time to rest. He had too many tasks to complete. It would have been much better if he had never entered the bathtub. Certain tasks would have been better off if completed several days ago. There is no crying over spilled milk. There is nothing I can do about it. That might be true, but Percy still could not stop thinking about his tasks. He had to check the Dragon¡¯s Lair, prepare new Artifacts to sell and distribute, inspect the Dragon Nest¡¯s progress, invest more in his employees¡¯ growth, and do the same with the Dragon Knight Order. Percy had a rough understanding of each aspect¡ªhis grandfather informed him about the progress of almost everything¡ªbut it was always better to check the situation personally. He couldn¡¯t be certain what Artifacts were in high demand right now; the war changed the customers¡¯ demands drastically, and there was no way to be sure how powerful the Dragon Knights were. Every Dragon Knight would receive customized Monster Cards. At least, that was what Percy would have done if he had been given the time to watch and study them for weeks. Unfortunately, that wasn¡¯t the case. He couldn¡¯t even be certain how many Dragon Knight trainees were already Elite Gifted and what goods they needed for the great war against the Devil. Were they mentally ready to fight the Devil¡¯s demon hordes in the first place? Percy had no idea, and that drove him crazy. He needed more intel, and he needed to work more. His mind was telling him to get out of the bathtub and immediately jump into work, but his body didn¡¯t budge. His head disappeared underwater, bubbles breaking through the water''s surface when he sighed in relief. Percy hadn¡¯t been given a single second of rest even as he had upgraded his Monster Cards. His body had been forced to adapt to the changes without any break. He couldn¡¯t sleep properly either, more nightmares resurfacing since the Devil entered the mortal realm. Thus, instead of sleeping, Percy had been focusing on mana training. His mana control was already exceptional, and it was increasingly difficult to improve, but he always found something to improve. His improvements weren¡¯t as sudden and explosive as they had been in the past, yet he kept progressing. It was slow but steady. How strong is the Devil, in the first place? Grandfather told me about their fight two centuries ago. He was an Exalted then and nearly died repelling the Devil, but it worked. The Devil was injured in the process as well. Normally, Demons cannot grow much stronger in the Seven Hells. They rarely mutate in the Seven Hells, but their strength increases explosively after killing and consuming residents of the mortal realm. If that¡¯s the case¡­does that mean the Devil took two centuries to regain his full power, or is he still weakened and spent two centuries licking his wounds? Percy¡¯s mind was a mess, but he couldn¡¯t do anything about it. The Devil¡¯s appearance worried him. His head emerged again, and he took a deep breath. ¡°If he had regained his strength, he wouldn¡¯t be hiding in the Moonlight Forest. He is stalling for time, slowly trying to collect his forces,¡± Percy murmured, ¡°But if he is not at full strength¡­how strong is the Devil right now?¡± B3 Chapter 50 - The Moon Once everyone had washed up and changed into clean clothes, they met up in the dining hall of the royal palace. Percy didn¡¯t loathe formal clothes, but he was so used to Dragonscale and the rest of his combat wear that he pulled on his tunic now and then, trying to fix it when there was nothing to fix in the first place. ¡°Tell me about the royal mission,¡± The Queen requested from Melissa Reeze when Percy entered the dining hall. He looked at her as if to say, ¡®Don¡¯t tell her about my injuries!¡¯ but Melissa didn¡¯t glance in his direction. It was almost like she didn¡¯t notice him. ¡°I did not expect the royal mission to be this dangerous when we departed, but my early impression changed after our first encounter with a demon horde, Your Excellency,¡± Melissa started slowly. Percy listened quietly, squirming when he realized that Lady Reeze wouldn¡¯t leave out any details. A firm hand landed on Percy¡¯s shoulder as Melissa¡¯s story continued, ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it.¡± King Phillip had gotten up from the table to give his son a bracelet. The bracelet didn¡¯t look any special. It was silver in color, though it may not have been forged with silver, and looked like an oversized ring that fit perfectly around his wrist. ¡°If you don¡¯t want to listen, you might as well take this little gift and get to work,¡± King Phillip winked, handing Percy the bracelet. [Silverium Bracelet ¨C Perfect Quality ¨C 3.256.237 Prosperity] [Spatial Storage], [Expanded Storage], [Perfect Preservation] Percy already owned a spatial storage, but the bracelet was much better. It was worth a fortune. However, what impressed Percy even more was the series of interfacing popping up as if they jumped straight out of the Silverium Bracelet. [Six Greater Demons ¨C Demonic ¨C 8,695,239 Prosperity] [103 Elite Demons(Lifefeeder, Cursias, Pleacis, Hellhounds) ¨C Demonic ¨C 22,152,125 Prosperity] [1581 Lesser Demons (Archyeas, Gnylds, Minos¡­) ¨C Demonic ¨C 23.721,185 Prosperity] ¡­ ¡­ The first three interfaces were the most important. There was also an interface for the gold coins in the Silverium Bracelet, but Percy¡¯s mind was racing. A smile blossomed on his face. ¡°The Kingsguard and Imperials collected as many corpses as possible without endangering their lives. We made sure they were aware of the condition ¨C to forfeit their ownership of the demons they¡¯d defeated ¨C but we could not test if it worked. You are the only one who can tell us whether it worked or not,¡± Phillip explained, while Percy used [Consume] with the intention to consume all demon corpses stored in the Silverium Bracelet. The Abomination oozed out of his palm, but it didn¡¯t burst out like usual. Instead, it trickled out and created a small stream to pave the way to the Silverium Bracelet. Once the Abomination reached the Silverium Bracelet, it seeped inside and invaded the spatial storage. Percy couldn¡¯t sense anything, but he saw the interfaces changing slowly. The numbers changed and decreased as the Abomination consumed them slowly. It wasn¡¯t a fast process, but that was to be expected. The Abomination didn¡¯t burst out in full power to swallow hundreds of corpses in one go by splitting into countless human-sized ¨C if not larger ¨C streams of pitch-black darkness. The darkness inside the Silverium Bracelet was nothing more than a thin stream that couldn¡¯t have been thicker than a worm. His Prosperity increased, albeit slowly, but that was okay. He retrieved the stack of Silverheart Hound Cards and checked them out. [Silverheart Hound] [Potential: Common ?] [Augmentation] [None] Percy had to sit down for this one. His eyes narrowed, and his expression worsened progressively as he realized that all Monster Cards showed the same. I have never seen a Monster Card with starless Potential. At least, I can enhance their Potential¡­but there is still no Augmentation. Would Augmentations be added once the Silverheart Hound Cards¡¯ Potential had been improved? Percy sure hoped so. [5,000 Prosperity has been consumed.] [Silverheart Hound Card¡¯s Potential [Common] has been upgraded. The first Card¡¯s potential had been improved, but no sealed Augmentation popped up.This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. [15,000 Prosperity has been consumed.] [Silverheart Hound Card¡¯s Potential [Common?] has been upgraded.] There was still no change. [30,000 Prosperity has been consumed.] [Silverheart Hound Card¡¯s Potential [Common??] has been upgraded.] Percy¡¯s brows furrowed deeply. He inwardly, blaming the Monster Card for being useless and wasting his precious Prosperity. Nonetheless, he continued investing more Prosperity in the first Silverheart Hound¡¯s Card. He did so until something finally changed. [Silverheart Hound Card¡¯s Potential increased to [Elite ?], transcending its natural limit manifold.] [Silverheart Hound advanced to Moonlight Wolf. A natural ability manifested within the Moonlight Wolf] Upgrading the Monster Card until it changed into something useful, adding proper value to the Monster Card cost around 500,000 Prosperity. That was a decent bit, but it was worth it. The Silverheart Hound evolved into a Moonlight Wolf, and one Augmentation had already been unlocked as one of the Moonlight Wolf¡¯s natural abilities. [Moonlight Wolf] [Potential: Elite??] [Augmentation] [Reaping Moon?] [Basic Agility Boost??] [Lunar Manifestation?????] [Moonlight Storage????] [Reaping Moon] sounded impressive, but Percy had no idea what Augmentation, the naturally formed ability, could do. In the first place, the Moonlight Wolf wasn¡¯t something he¡¯d heard about. It had to resemble the Lunar Wolf, maybe a mutation that had formed after humans domesticated the inferior Silverheart Hound. ¡°Take a look at this. The Silverheart Hound is probably too fragile to form any Augmentations. Still, it evolved once I upgraded its potential to Elite, which cost slightly above 45 gold coins, or the equivalent¡­three and a half Elite Demons or 34 Lesser Demons,¡± Percy handed his father the Moonlight Wolf Card before adding. ¡°I can also unlock several Augmentations, such as [Basic Agility Boost] at two stars, [Lunar Manifestation] at five stars, and [Moonlight Storage] at four stars. I think the Moon-, Moonlight-, and Lunar Augmentations could work well together, but I¡¯m not sure how well they would work together or how much I¡¯d have to invest into unsealing the Augmentations. If Reaping Moon is powerful, upgrading the naturally formed ability might be best. It might be more cost-efficient to do so rather than trying to unlock [Moonlight Storage] and the like.¡± King Phillip was silent. He¡¯d sat beside his son and nibbled on his lower lip. Countless thoughts flashed through his mind. ¡°I will call some Imperials back. Some stayed back in the barracks to finish their final preparations,¡± he said slowly, more ideas forming in his mind. Please create a variety of Moonlight Wolf Cards and note the upgrade cost.¡± Percy nodded and started the process right away. The first Card he created was a fully empowered Moonlight Wolf. [Moonlight Wolf Card¡¯s Augmentation [Basic Agility Boost??] has been unsealed. 300,000 Prosperity has been consumed.] That wasn¡¯t too expensive and worth the investment. Percy made a note on a noteboard his father had left behind before giving orders to several servants. The servants bowed to the King and rushed out the dining hall with hastened steps. [Moonlight Wolf Card¡¯s Augmentation [Lunar Manifestation?????] has been unsealed. 2,000,000 Prosperity has been consumed.] [Moonlight Wolf Card¡¯s Augmentation [Moonlight Storage????] has been unsealed. 1,000,000 Prosperity has been consumed.] [Moonlight Wolf Card¡¯s Augmentation [Reaping Moon?] has been enhanced. 300,000 Prosperity has been consumed.] Unsealing all Augmentations and upgrading [Reaping Moon] once pushed the total cost of transforming the Silverheart Hound Card into something valuable close to 4,100,000 Prosperity. It cost slightly more than 370 gold coins, which would have been terrifying if not for the fortune earned by consuming the demons the kingdom¡¯s forces had killed and collected. In fact, even then, it was rather expensive. Still¡­it might have been worth it. Percy had no idea. Instead of thinking about the cost, worrying whether the Minister of Finances would be after his head in the near future, Percy proceeded with the given task. He noticed his mother glaring at him ¨C Melissa probably reached the fight with the Thousand-eyed Hellhounds in the story, where they may¡­or may not¡­left out how many times Percy had been injured ¨C but Percy ignored the Queen with his utmost capabilities. Instead, he created a Moonlight Wolf Card with [Reaping Moon] at five stars without unsealing any other Augmentations. Then, Percy formed a Moonlight Wolf Card without enhancing [Reaping Moon], but he unlocked [Lunar Manifestation]. Third, he created a Card with [Moonlight Storage] as the only additional unsealed Augmentation. Last but not least, he unsealed all but [Basic Agility Boost] without enhancing [Reaping Moon]. Percy couldn¡¯t be certain about it, yet his best guess was that [Reaping Moon] was a passive ability. Lunar motes, whatever they may be, were gathering in the Silverheart Hounds¡¯ heart according to his mother¡¯s tale. His theory was that this unique function of the Silverheart Hound had transformed into a natural ability after evolving into a Moonlight Wolf. A passive Augmentation that may or may not empower the other Augmentations. Percy finished his notes right before a handful of Imperials entered the dining hall. They greeted everyone present with a formal salute, but the King ushered them to move to the side. He reached for the Monster Cards that had already been Ego-enhanced and handed them to the Imperials. ¡°Bind to the Cards and test the Augmentations one by one,¡± The King ordered. When you¡¯re done, remove the Monster Card and give it to your comrade. I want everyone to feel the difference of each Augmentation and to tell me which combination is the best and how much they differ from each other.¡± ¡°Yes, Your Highness!¡± The Imperials shouted and went to work, albeit confused about what was happening. B3 Chapter 51 - Loving Mother The initial tests were completed in no time. [Reaping Moon], as Percy had theorized, was a passive Augmentation. It gathered lunar motes in the heart and spread them through the Cardist¡¯s system. However, the process was slow, and gathering lunar motes in the heart strained the Cardist¡¯s heart. [Moonlight Storage] solved all problems with strains. The Augmentations enhanced the gathering speed of lunar motes and created a tiny storage where lunar motes could be stored without straining the Cardist¡¯s heart. The more lunar motes the Cardist stored, the more pronounced its power. Lunar motes enhanced the Cardist¡¯s body, yet the enhancement degree wasn¡¯t noteworthy compared with its other effect. Lunar motes could be mixed with mana, altering mana permanently. The Imperials were a little clumsy with the fusion as it wasn¡¯t an easy process, but it worked well. Lunar mana didn¡¯t seem stronger than Percy¡¯s pure mana, but it was certainly better than the average impure mana stored within most Gifted Ones. Their mana had been replaced with Lunar mana, which was a level or two better than their mana had been, which improved the power of their other Augmentation and granted greater output when channeled into their Artifacts. The only issue was that Lunar mana was only stable in the Cardist¡¯s body. It fell apart within seconds of leaving the Cardist¡¯s body¡­except if [Lunar Manifestation] was unsealed. Infusing Lunar Mana into Combat Artifacts made the weapons glow. Their sharpness increased, which wasn¡¯t as important as the glow¡¯s resemblance to the light element. ¡°This should work,¡± King Phillip murmured, the corner of his lips tilting upward, ¡°We have yet to test it in combat, but I think we did it.¡± He smiled vibrantly at his son, who had been smiling as well. However, when he realized something, Percy¡¯s smile crumbled. He pressed his lips together and stared intently at his father. ¡°The kingdom¡¯s funds for this cycle have already been used up, haven¡¯t they?¡± Percy didn¡¯t have to listen to his father¡¯s answer. The King¡¯s dying smile was enough of an answer, ¡°You can fight with the Minister of Finances to tap into the reserves. We are at war¡­but I¡¯m still unsure if the Minister is ready to destroy the economy knowing I will consume all gold and Imperial Coins.¡± The King winced at the thought. He would rather not have this discussion again. A few weeks ago, the Minister of Finances told the King that they shouldn¡¯t give Percy any more gold if they wished to upkeep the kingdom¡¯s economy, but Percy continued mercilessly. ¡°Or you give me your savings. If you fund me, I can enhance the Monster Cards as much as you want. I will Ego-enhance and evolve as many Cards as you wish as long as I have enough Prosperity,¡± Percy sighed deeply before adding a sarcastic undertone, ¡°I don¡¯t know what¡¯s worse. A half-destroyed economy or losing the war with the Devil, but I would take the broken economy over the kingdom''s destruction.¡± Percy forced a smile on his lips, yet to King Phillip, it looked sinister. But it wasn¡¯t like his son was wrong. Percy¡¯s words reached the King. ¡°The Kingdom needs those cards¡­The greater their Augmentations, the lower the casualties¡­¡± He groaned as if bearing the pain of the kingdom and considered the options. ¡°Ego-enhance as much as you can with the Prosperity you have on you. After the Imperial Head and others tested the Moonlight Wolf Cards and Augmentations in combat against the Demons, I will open the royal treasury and give you access to the emergency funds. Before that, I need to be certain the Moonlight Wolf Cards are as efficient against Demons as the Imperial Head said.¡± ¡°That makes sense,¡± Percy agreed, using [Consume] on Prosperity to upgrade as many Cards as possible and evolve them to Moonlight Wolves. He unsealed as many Augmentations as he could afford and invested the minuscule remainder of less than 100,000 Prosperity in the Capture Card.If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. Once evolved and upgraded, the cards were given to the Imperials, who returned to the barracks to finish preparing before departing for the frontlines the same day. Once the business part of the late afternoon ended, dinner began. The dining table was filled with various delicacies, including trays of sweets. Percy licked his lips and started feasting on the savory dishes, filling his stomach to the brim before tapping into his secondary stomach ¨C the space reserved for sweets ¨C to devour several desserts. It was delicious, much better than anything Percy had eaten in the last few weeks. Everything would have been perfect, and Percy would have gone to sleep feeling more relaxed than he¡¯d felt a long time ago. Unfortunately, something ¨C someone, to be precise ¨C soured his dinner. It was his mother. The queen berated him for his reckless actions in the royal mission during the whole dinner. She didn¡¯t eat anything and spent their precious time together telling her son off now that he wasn¡¯t busy dealing with enhancing Monster Cards anymore. Mom¡­I¡¯m happy you care about me and are worried, but don¡¯t you think the best I could have done given the situation? Percy could have loved to say that. He wasn¡¯t ashamed of his actions since his reckless charge at the Thousand-eyed Hellhounds was the reason the royal envoy survived. The situation might have been a little tricky at times, but he was never on the verge of death. Furthermore, Percy was the strongest member of the envoy and the leader. Percy was responsible for the envoy member¡¯s survival. It was only obvious that he charged the strongest enemies first to attract their full attention before anyone else pulled the Greater Demons¡¯ attention toward them. He might have gotten injured a few times, but it was never too much for Fiona¡¯s Ego. Others would have died in his stead. Nonetheless, no word escaped his lips. His mother scolded him throughout the entire dinner, and Percy would have loved to give some snarky remarks at times, but at the end of the day, he knew that the Queen was only worried about his well-being. She lost him once and didn¡¯t want to experience pain like this ever again. She grieved for years and feared every cut on Percy¡¯s skin could be worse¡­That it could kill him. She was overprotective, but she loved him dearly. That was fine as long as she didn¡¯t start blocking him from fighting the Devil and his demonic forces. ¡°I know I can¡¯t stop worrying about you,¡± She conceded at the end of the dinner, her lips trembling, ¡°But I hope you can promise me to stay safe. No matter what happens.¡± That¡¯s not something I can promise. Nobody can promise to be safe and sound in times like these. But Percy nodded instead, ¡°I will try to stay safe and to keep everyone safe.¡± The Queen eyed him intently for a few seconds and sighed deeply. She lowered her head and nodded, defeated. The tension in the air had already been high, given the envoy members had also been present during the dinner, but Percy didn¡¯t let that bother him. Instead, he changed the topic to something he had been wondering for a while now. ¡°I haven¡¯t seen the Old King yet.¡± This time, Phillip Kain sighed deeply as if the question was already enough to defeat him. ¡°I know he is searching for something in the crowns¡¯ crypt. He has been roaming the depths of the crypt, visiting our ancestors¡¯ tombs since news of the Devil¡¯s appearance in the Moonlight Forest reached us. Please don¡¯t ask me what he is looking for. I have no idea.¡± Is he hiding? No. Grandfather doesn¡¯t strike me as a coward. Maybe¡­he was a bit cowardly when he tried killing me through assassins, but that is another subject. The dinner ended shortly after, and the remaining members of the royal envoy left the palace. Percy played a little with Princess Sophia, but his sister complained about his lackluster attitude. He was too busy wondering what the Old King was doing and how to support the kingdom¡¯s ordeal against the Devil and his forces. Thus, instead of playing with Percy, Sophia left him to play with Sabrina, whose apprenticeship as an elite maid progressed rapidly. Sabrina noticed Percy and greeted him with a vibrant smile. She would have loved to talk to Percy, but Princess Sophia dragged the young Demi elsewhere. Percy took the cue and returned to his chamber. He lay down and fell asleep the moment he hit the soft mattress. His body had been worn out than expected, shutting off before the mess of fleeting thoughts in Percy¡¯s mind had been cleansed. B3 Chapter 52 - Dragon Knights The next day arrived quickly. It was still early in the morning, and ruby red sun rays peeked through the window, casting aside the darkness of the night. Percy jumped up with a vibrant smile, life filling every inch of his body, and got ready for work. After weeks of absence, Percy returned to his businesses. First, he visited the Dragon Lair shops spread across the capital, acquired the reports, including sales reports for the last few weeks and a list of custom orders, and returned to the Dragon Nest, where the sound of combat rang out. What is going¡­Oh, nevermind. I¡¯ve already forgotten about ¡®that¡¯. Percy smiled, walked through Dragon Nest¡¯s large entrance hall, and stepped out into the backyard. Dragon Nest¡¯s backyard was connected to the Dragon Knight Order. Therefore, Percy wasn¡¯t surprised to find some Dragon Knights sparring early in the morning. ¡°Long time no see,¡± Percy greeted the familiar faces. A blood-engulfed fist smashed into a young Demi¡¯s face, hurling the Demi through the air right before the attacker could stop in his tracks. The man turned around with a bright smile, ¡°Percy!¡± It was Erik who¡¯d used his Ego to beat up Louis. Tarlek had acted as the referee. He rushed to Louis to check up on the Demi and sighed in relief when he saw everything was fine. Louis shot up to his knees, his eyes drilling into Percy. The Demi studied Percy intently, his hair standing up to its end at the discovery he made. ¡°Something about you changed. Your presence,¡± Louis sniffed in the air, his furry ears twitching uncontrollably, ¡°But also your smell. You¡­smell different.¡± ¡°Finally, you are a little bit more dangerous!¡± Erik exclaimed, which earned a scowl from Tarlek. ¡°I am glad you¡¯re back,¡± Tarlek said, ¡°The servants from the palace told us about your actions. Good job out there!¡± Percy smiled, ¡°How has the training been? I heard you two have been knighted.¡± Erik and Tarlek had been the two Imperial prospects who¡¯d left their service to join the Dragon Knight Order. They were the strongest members of the Dragon Knight Order, by far at that, but the brothers didn¡¯t mind. As long as Percy would help them fulfill their goals, the brothers would follow him everywhere. Defeating the Devil and his demonic forces was merely the beginning. ¡°Your father knighted us a few weeks ago, but I¡¯m still unsure if it changes anything¡­other than forcing more responsibility onto us,¡± Erik grumbled, while Tarlek added, ¡°We have been training the other trainees with the Weaponmaster until he left us to join the frontlines. Most members of the Order won¡¯t be ready to join war just yet, but Erik and I made sure to beat them black and blue. To strengthen their mental fortitude and pain resistance, of course.¡± ¡°Did you prepare the list as well?¡± Percy asked. He had no idea how to train other Gifted Ones and decided to leave that chunk of work to the Weaponmaster and the brothers. They were powerful Egos and trained with other Imperial prospects for months. The brothers were much better instructors than Percy, who always focused on training what he considered the most important at that moment. Percy was hard-working, and he worked out every day, but his training program was chaotic. ¡°The list is done, but I¡¯m unsure if it contains everything you need. I noted the trainees¡¯ progress, personalities, how well they can work and fight together, what weapons they can wield best, and bits and pieces about their Gifted affinities. I¡¯ve also noted recommendations to the right. That¡¯s just my opinion, but I observed the trainees for a while and am fairly confident about what Artifacts and Monster Cards they need.¡± ¡°I trust you,¡± Percy nodded and retrieved the list. A few dozen names were noted on the list, including their strengths, weaknesses, weapon proficiency, their Tier, how much they¡¯d improved, and much more. Tarlek¡¯s list was far more detailed than he had been hoping for. This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. He nibbled on his lips as he read through the list thrice. ¡°The Monster Cards will be expensive to acquire, especially if I have to unseal all Augmentations, but the Artifact will be done in no time,¡± Percy mumbled before switching to the other lists he carried with him. The shops netted a profit of slightly less than 2,000 gold coins in the last few weeks. That¡¯s good, great, even if one were to ask anyone else, but it is not good enough given the situation. I will have to complete more custom orders to earn more money. Two thousand gold coins aren¡¯t nearly enough to invest heavily in the Dragon Knight Order¡¯s Artifacts and Monster Cards while also nurturing the Dragon Nest. Percy had yet to see the progress report of the apprentices studying in the Dragon Nest, but he was certain most members met his expectations. He was most interested in Bert¡¯s growth. However, the lack of funds was a problem. Close to 2,000 gold coins was an enormous fortune. There was no doubt about that. But if Percy wished to Monster Cards rivaling the prowess of his Cards, he would have to invest a lot. They did not need to have the same potential as the Glacial Roc or the Gnoll Warlord, but the Monster Cards of the Dragon Knight Order would have to be on their level¡­and that would cost a fortune. 2,000 gold coins¡­If I invest half into the Dragon Knights and a third of the remainder into materials to create customized Artifacts, rare Artifacts for sale, and rare Monster Cards for sale, I should earn a small fortune again. That leaves 600ish gold coins to invest into the Dragon Nest¡­their Monster Cards, and the Artifacts they need to improve their work¡¯s quality and efficiency. Percy caught falling into a downward spiral of bleak thoughts and slapped his cheeks firmly. Louis flinched, whereas the brothers looked at him surprised. Get your act together! Two thousand gold coins are a fortune. They may not be enough to upgrade your Monster Cards or increase your Tier, but it is still A LOT. I can equip an entire army with high-quality armor and weapons using 2,000 gold coins. Peak Elite Artifacts are easy to create. It costs a few dozen gold coins, but the profit I can earn from selling them is enormous! Percy was a bit embarrassed about his outburst. He was glad nobody saw his dark thoughts, or they would have called him insane. ¡°I will prepare a list of materials and Monster Cards I¡¯d like to purchase soon. Don¡¯t tell the others about it, but I will create suitable Monster Carsd and Artifacts for them,¡± Percy said before glancing at the brothers as he recalled something, ¡°Are your Artifacts still¨C...¡± ¡°They¡¯re perfect. I never expected to wield something like the Bloodriver Axes. They¡¯re perfect!¡± ¡°The Levianit Blade is very strong. I didn¡¯t think you would find something that could endure the strain of my Ego.¡± That was good to hear. He chatted with the brothers a little longer, whereas Louis studied him intently. Yet, Percy couldn¡¯t tell if Louis eyed him vigilantly or if he was glaring at him. One way or another, it felt like a searing hot needle pierced his heart over and over again as the Demi looked at him, but it wasn¡¯t like Percy couldn¡¯t understand the youngster. He might have accepted Louis and allowed him to join the Dragon Knight Order, but it was a fact that the young Demi wasn¡¯t fully accepted anywhere. Maybe Louis would have loved to be part of the Beastlands and fight alongside the Beastmen, or maybe he wished to be human without beast blood running through his veins. At the end of the day, Percy doesn¡¯t know what Louis wants other than to protect his sister. However, it was apparent that Louis didn¡¯t like how well Percy had been accepted by everyone. The Beastmen honored him, the Beast King respected him, and all humans seemed to love Percy. It wasn¡¯t fair. Louis wanted to be loved as well. More Dragon Knight trainees woke up an hour after dawn. They emerged from the barracks and saw Percy. Their eyes widened in surprise, and they rushed over, only for Percy to ruffle through Louis¡¯s hair and turn around. ¡°I can tell that you¡¯re in a bad mood. If something bothers you, we can talk. There is a lot of work to do before I¡¯m done for the day, but you can join me if you¡¯re not busy,¡± Percy offered. He knew talking while working wouldn¡¯t be the same as putting aside enough time to focus solely on talking about their feelings ¨C mostly Louis talking about how he felt ¨C but that was all Percy could offer right now. ¡°Can I?¡± Louis asked, still vigilant, ¡°Your Excellency.¡± ¡°Of course, you can. And there is no need for formalities when we¡¯re among friends,¡± Percy smiled and looked at the brothers, who nodded in agreement. ¡°Can you¡­¡± Louis hesitated, tip-toeing around the topic. He cleared his throat, gathered the courage needed, and said what he had been curious about for weeks, ¡°Can you¡­only if you do not mind, tell me about the Beastlands?¡± So that¡¯s it? Percy smiled, ¡°Naturally. I would have told you all about the Beastlands even if you¡¯d never asked.¡± The hesitation in Louis¡¯ eyes dispersed, a thin smile forming on his lips. ¡°How was it?¡± B3 Chapter 53 - Good and Bad News The following days passed slowly, but days soon turned into a full week. Percy¡¯s relationship with Louis improved again ¨C he hadn¡¯t even known that it was strained until the Demi told him about his struggles. Louis had been increasingly curious about the Beastmen¡¯s freedom. At first, Percy didn¡¯t know what that was all about, but he quickly realized that the Demi didn¡¯t consider his current situation as freedom. In the back of his head, a small voice told him that he was still imprisoned and that his new prison had a fancy name. He would never be free, and Percy was taking advantage of his weakness. Louis didn¡¯t want to believe the voice in his head, but as Percy spent weeks in the Beastlands, Louis realized that he had no idea about freedom. He was not enslaved anymore, but he had been forced to stay in the capital to earn coins via guild missions. He was treated a little better after slavery had been abolished, yet the situation was not entirely good. Louis was still struggling, his mind''s voice reminding him of the worst possible cases and that they would come true at some point. Louis didn¡¯t want to believe the voice in his head, but the voice belonged to him. The tiny part in the back of his mind told him to be careful, to stay vigilant, and to never fully submit to someone else¡­not even the young man who had rescued him and his sister when they needed help the most. After talking to Percy the whole day and occasionally in the following days, the voice in his mind dispersed. Louis learned all about freedom and that he could leave whenever he wanted. Yet, the young Demi also understood to take responsibility. He comprehended what it would mean to leave the capital, maybe even the Kainesh Kingdom, in times like these. The freedom he sought wouldn¡¯t last long. The Devil and his forces were ever-present, ready to conquer the mortal realm. Louis would lose his freedom again if the demonic forces emerged victorious. He had to fight for his freedom. To enjoy it properly. To ensure his sister was safe and sound. To repay Percy for everyone he¡¯d done to help. Percy was glad he could help Louis get back on track. Unfortunately, he didn¡¯t have time to enjoy it. Two weeks full of reports from the frontline hinted at various good and bad changes. The good news was that the Moonlight Wolf Cards worked much better than the Imperial Head had hoped. Lunar mana was highly effective against Demons. It clashed with the Demons¡¯ Essences and tore them apart slowly. It was especially useful when used through [Lunar Manifestation]. This was great news, especially when his father decided to tap into his savings and fund The Anti-Demon-Card-Creation project. Percy consumed the corpses collected and stored by the Kingsguard and Imperials before devouring his father¡¯s funds. The latter was far more valuable, but both sources of Prosperity and growth were important. Percy Invested all Prosperity, spending more than 300,000,000 Prosperity on Ego-enhancing and evolving Moonlight Wolf Cards. In fact, Percy went as far as to evolve a Silverheart Hound twice, transforming it into a Moonlight Wolf first, before upgrading its¡¯ Potential to [Evolved???] to evolve it into the Prince of the Moon, a massive, silver wolf that ruled its pack with bravery, and the power of good. One of the Augmentations Percy unlocked in the Prince of the Moon Card was called [Moon¡¯s Champion]. It was expensive to upgrade but worth the price. The Augmentation elevated all lunar abilities and Augmentations of all allies in the Cardist¡¯s range. Since the Imperial Head was given the Prince of the Moon, the Imperial¡¯s power skyrocketed. Percy ranked up only once as he focused on his businesses, trying to earn a fortune while Ego-enhancing Moonlight Wolf Cards on the side for his father, but his rank up wasn¡¯t what was the most important. The crucial point, the greatest advantage of the last few days, was that the Imperials attained low mastery of their new Augmentations, which were the perfect means to fight the Devil¡¯s demonic forces efficiently. Stolen story; please report. It worked so much better than expected and would have changed the tides on the battlefield if the bad news hadn¡¯t been announced. The Imperials eliminated more Demons than ever but had more enemies to fight. News reached the Kainesh Kingdom that flying Demons, mostly Archyeas, crossed the Milhorn Mountains every day. They numbered in the hundreds and returned with residents of the neighboring kingdom. The aerial monsters summoned by dozens of Cardists to scout the area discovered the Archyeas less than two weeks ago. They could have been crossing the Milhorn Mountains for much longer already, kidnapping the citizens of the adjacent kingdom, but nobody was certain about it. All they knew was that hundreds of Archyeas visited the neighboring kingdom daily to kidnap as many humans as possible. The humans disappeared in the Moonlight Forest and were never seen again. However, the Kainesh Kingdom¡¯s forces discovered a steady increase in the demonic forces¡¯ numbers. Even the Demons¡¯ power increased slowly. More Archyeas, and even Byals, larger winged Elite Demons, emerged from the Moonlight Forest to cross the borders and kidnap defenseless humans. It took eons until the news reached Percy, but after hearing King Phillip¡¯s rage-filled roar one evening, he learned a lot about it. The neighboring kingdoms finally acknowledged the Devil¡¯s danger. At last, the threat in the Moonlight Forest was ever-present to the surrounding kingdoms. However, the situation wasn¡¯t as pleasant as Percy had been hoping for. Under normal circumstances, one would think that the neighboring kingdoms would offer support and reinforcement to aid in the all-out war against the Devil and his forces. But that was not the case. The surrounding kingdoms demanded to know what was happening¡ªwhich they should have already known given the dozens of letters and countless tries at communication via magical devices¡ªand blamed the Kainesh Kingdom for their actions even though it was apparent that the Kainesh Kingdom was not at fault. Yet, the kingdoms blamed them, saying they were in cahoots with the Devil. It was no surprise to find King Phillip overflowing with rage the day he found out that the surrounding kingdoms wouldn¡¯t deploy reinforcement and that they blamed the Kainesh Kingdom instead. ¡°The only ¡®reinforcement¡¯ we receive from our neighbors is the protection of the lands behind the Milhorn Mountains. These idiots from Braeston finally stopped ignoring their subjects¡¯ pleas for protection. The Archyeas and Byals crossing the Milhorn Mountains haven¡¯t returned for two days now,¡± Percy heard the Minister of Defenses saying when he joined the war meeting in the Hall of War. The Hall of War wasn¡¯t anything special. It was a large room in the royal palace, with shelves filled with the Kainesh Kingdom¡¯s history of war, detailed maps of the mortal realm, and so forth. Important to note was that the Hall of War was only used in desperate times and the state of war. The Kainesh Kingdom was both desperate and at war. ¡°While that might seem good, Braeston¡¯s lackluster attitude already caused more than enough damage. The Demons¡¯ surge in numbers and power started after the Archyeas and Byals returned from their hunts in Braeston. The Devil is clearly using the humans to nourish Infernal Lairs, and it worked. Too well,¡± The Minister of Finances muttered. She sighed deeply, ¡°Everything would have been perfect if Braeston had listened to us. The Imperials'' increase in strength would have changed our odds, giving us the edge.¡± The King nodded slowly, his face worn, dark eyebags highlighting his pale complexion, ¡°Now we have to deal with the neighboring kingdoms¡¯ wrath. Our greatest advantage is that we gave the letters to their ambassadors in the capital. We warned them more than enough, and we have the ambassador¡¯s seals to prove everything.¡± ¡°But it is not like they cared about something like that. I think they¡¯re looking for a reason to attack,¡± The Queen said in an icy tone. ¡°The only good thing is that we¡¯re not at war with the Beastlands this time. The greatest threat to the neighboring lands is on our side at this time.¡± Percy listened intently, a faint smile blossoming on his lips as he heard the final piece of news. ¡°The Beast Legions arrived at the border. They¡¯re on their way to the frontlines,¡± Someone Percy had never seen notified the war council, ¡°The Beast King is leading them¡­and¡­reports say that he is out for blood.¡± The King laughed. It was a hoarse laugh, the first after many exhausting weeks. ¡°It¡¯s a good thing that he¡¯s not after our blood then.¡± B3 Chapter 54 - Teamwork ¡°Don¡¯t let anyone through!¡± The Imperial Head¡¯s voice beamed across the defense line as the flood of demons charged forward. The defenders¡¯ view was filled with black and purple spots. Even the cloudless sky was shrouded in dark bodies. Minos and Gnylds charged the common soldiers head-on while the Archyeas dived down without hesitation, squashing soldiers as they crashed into the dry ground. A cacophony of pained screams, desperate shouts, and the sound of death filled the air. ¡°Fire!!¡± A middle-aged man in plate armor shouted, releasing the icicle manifested in his palm at the closest Gnyld. The Lesser Demon¡¯s chest was pierced through and through, and it collapsed dead to the ground. Dozens of Lesser Demons around the Gnyld followed the example and fell dead to the ground. ¡°The Glacia Knights are here to help!¡± A soldier exclaimed in relief after the Lesser Demon charging him dropped dead before him. A long icicle jut from the creature¡¯s chest. The Glacia Knight Order joined the fight on the frontlines, their summoned Monsters circling above the battlefield. Blueflame Hawks, Tundra Eagles, and even Iglasia Sparrows could be seen in the air, shooting icicles at the Lesser Demons, killing them on the spot while rescuing the damsels in distress. The common soldiers faced the full extent of the Lesser Demon flood. More summoned Monsters with control of the ice element walked next to the Glacial Knights, aiding their Cardists with barrages of icicles. The summoned Monsters gradually eliminated one Lesser Demon every few seconds, draining their mana. ¡°How long has it been since all of you obtained those Monster Cards?¡± One of the Imperials asked as a small group barged fearlessly into the flood of Lesser Demons. Their scythes, glowing vibrantly from the Lunar mana infusion, swept across the battlefield, harvesting the heads of dozens of Lesser Demons in one go. Some Lesser Demons raised their arms, shrouded in several layers of Demonic Essence, but it was to no avail. The Imperials¡¯ scythes severed through the Lesser Demons¡¯ defenses and beheaded them in one go. ¡°Probably not as long as the Imperials obtained the Moonlight Wolves,¡± Knight Liam of the Glacia Knights snickered, his longsword cleaving cleanly through a massive Minos¡¯ chest. Another Glacia Knight heard their banter and added, ¡°If not for you, we would have obtained our Cards much earlier!¡± His lance impaled two Gnylds in one go while the white ferret on his shoulder released a series of icicles to repel the Archyeas pair, which was about to execute a dive attack. The dive attack failed, but the Archyeas hadn¡¯t been repelled. The icicles pierced through their eyes and killed the pair on the spot. ¡°That was the crown prince¡¯s doing? Not too shabby,¡± One of the Imperials said before disappearing into the masses of demons. They tried to swallow him with their numbers, but their death rattles, and the pristine light passing through the narrow gaps between the Lesser Demons showed clearly how effective their work was. A good minute later, the Imperial resurfaced from a pile of demon carcasses, his body covered in purple blood. He smiled wildly and turned to the demon flood. Yet, instead of charging ahead, the Imperial¡¯s smile cracked. His eyes fell upon a humongous creature resembling a three-headed¡­dog. It was almost four meters tall, had crimson fur that seemed searing as it walked out of the Moonlight Forest, and burned everything in its wake. If it had only been one creature like that, everything would have been manageable, but close to 50 Grand Hellhounds, Greater Demons emerged from the burning bushes next to the three-headed hound. ¡°Cerberus?¡± One of the soldiers asked, trembling in fear. Most soldiers had only heard legends of the death and destruction Cerberus had caused in the war two centuries ago. Towns disappeared in its hellfire, and entire cities were burned to ashes. ¡°No. Cerberus died in the war,¡± A confident voice rang out next to them. Everyone turned to the charismatic voice. They sought the voice¡¯s origin, tapping into its confidence to gain some on their own. The Gifted One they saw shouldn¡¯t have surprised them. It was the Imperial Head covered in demon blood. His eyes glistened vibrantly, Lunar Mana coursing through his body as he stepped forward to face the three-headed Hellhound head-on.Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings. ¡°This is a bad imitation. Cerberus died two hundred years ago,¡± The Imperial Head repeated, ¡°How do I know that?¡± He stopped for a moment and looked back, the corners of his lips tilting upward, ¡°Because I killed him!¡± Everyone in the vicinity who heard the Imperial Head¡¯s voice roared at the top of their lungs, their morale skyrocketing. Their morale didn¡¯t even crumble as a second wave of Demons emerged from the Moonlight Forest. Greater Demons in the dozens walked out behind the Grand Hellhounds, followed by a wave of Elite Demons. There were more than 1,000 Elite Demons, but the defenders fighting on the Meiso Plains with their lives on the lines didn¡¯t seem to bother. Or they couldn¡¯t care any more than they already did. The kingdom¡¯s forces were afraid. Nobody wanted to be the next one dying to the Devil¡¯s demonic forces, but this was not something they could change by allowing fear to take over. They had to keep going and give their utmost to cling desperately to the slim chance of survival. ¡°Beasts on the right!!¡± One of the scouts shouted through an amplification crystal. The warning resounded across the defense lines. Some were worried, fearing the Devil initiated a stampede, but those who realized what was happening smiled from one ear to the other. ¡°Reinforcement is on its way!¡± ¡°The Beast Legions are coming!!¡± ¡°Our allies have come!¡± The Beast Legions, shapeshifted into their beast forms, charged across the Meiso Plains¡¯ outskirts with shocking speed, led by a massive, black-furred, winged lion. The Beast King, leading the Beast Legions, had arrived. He roared at the top of his lungs, alarming defenders and demons of their arrival. The three-headed hound noticed the sudden shift in the defenders¡¯ morale ¨C their excitement and relief flooded its senses ¨C and it charged ahead. The Grand Hellhounds followed suit and reached top speed in no time, but the Imperial Head and his Imperials were already ready. They emerged from the first line of defense, their weapons clutched tightly as the Grand Hellhounds and the Three-headed Hellhounds arrived before them. The Imperials prepared for impact when a black flash shot past them. It crashed heavily into the Three-headed Hellhound, which was flung through there. Simultaneously, the sky above the Grand Hellhounds cracked, and golden portals appeared. The Beastmen, most still shapeshifted, shot out of the portals and pounced on the closest enemy. They didn¡¯t waste time and joined the war against the demonic forces. The golden portals disappeared after nearly one hundred Beastmen emerged from them, yet the portals weren¡¯t removed entirely. They popped up near the masses of Lesser Demons and Elite Demons fighting the forces on the frontlines. The Beast Legions could have charged the second wave emerging from the Moonlight Forest first, but since they considered the Kainesh Kingdom as their allies, they ought to protect their allies. The more allies survived this battle, the greater their survivability during the final battle. The golden portals expanded, and more Beasts emerged on the battlefield. Not all Beast Legions had Portal Mythics, but the few they had were used to the full extent. Two Beast Legions emerged in the middle of the bloody battlefield, whereas the rest would join from the sides in the next few minutes, forced to play with the leftovers. The Beastmen on the battlefield, on the other hand, were at an all-time high. Their hearts had been fueled with rage and anger over the last few weeks. Preparing for an all-out war had been taxing, but it was mostly boring. The longer the Beastmen had to wait to gather their forces, the deeper their hatred ran. At last, they found the perfect targets to unleash their hatred. And that was exactly what they did. They ripped the Demons apart. One Bear-shifted Beastman lunged at a Doombringer, shoving the demonic creature aside before it could squash a squadron of human soldiers. The Beastman arrived before the massive Elite Demon, who turned to him, grabbed it firmly between two plates covering its body, and tore them apart. The Bear-shifted struggled a little, the massive muscles underneath his fur bulging, until newfound power fueled him. ¡°Tear him apart!¡± Someone shouted from behind, granting the Bear-shifted just enough power to tear the plates apart, exposing the Doombringer¡¯s flesh. A Gifted One, a human, shot past the Bear-shifted with a smile, thrusting his glaive deep into the exposed flesh. The Doombringer roared at the top of his lungs but the human and Bear-shifted worked seamlessly together, as if they¡¯d spent years working together. The human shot to the side, while the Bear-shifted¡¯s paws crashed heavily into the bottom end of the glaive¡¯s shaft. The shaft screeched once, but the mana infused into it was enough to enhance its durability. At last, the shaft relayed the impacting force, pushing the glaive deeper into the Doombringer¡¯s chest until it reached the demonic creature¡¯s heart. The Doombringer collapsed to the ground after struggling a little bit longer while the Bear-shifted and Gifted Human looked at each other. ¡°Good work,¡± The human praised the Beastman, who responded with a satisfied growl. B3 Chapter 55 - Imitation The Beast King shifted into his humanoid form right after smashing into the Three-headed Hellhound at full speed. The Hellhound was hurled aside and slid across the dry ground, squashing an unfortunate Grand Hellhound. Nobody paid attention to the Grand Hellhound¡¯s desperate howl, the last sound before dying. The Beast King paid full attention to the Three-headed Hellhound, his claws digging deep into one of its three necks right after he landed softly on the ground. Purgatory Fire engulfed his claws, and a tremendous amount of mana surged through him as he tore the Three-headed Hellhound apart. His muscles bulged, and it felt like they were about to burst at any moment when the squishy voice of the Hellhound¡¯s fleshy neck giving in resounded. The Beast King smiled vibrantly, dark blood squirting in his face as he ripped large chunks of flesh out of the Hellhound¡¯s neck. Each hand was drenched in demon blood, tightly holding onto the Hellhound¡¯s flesh. The Three-headed Hellhound yelped in pain and roared, the two other heads lunging at the Beast King. The Beast King growled and twisted his body to evade the attacks while retreating a step. At the same time, a flash shot past the Beast King. The Imperial Head had already been ready to engage in a head-on battle, but he used the moment to push past the Beast King. His blade flashed vibrant silver as the Imperial Head¡¯s sword performed a beautiful arc, severing the Three-headed Hellhound¡¯s already injured neck. The unscathed heads roared in pain and anger. One eyed the Beast King while the other glared daggers at the Imperial Head. One of the creature¡¯s heads had been removed cleanly, drenching the dry soil in demon blood, but the remaining remained intact. The Demon Lord, an imitation of the legendary Cerberus, was still alive. It was injured, but the fight was not yet over. Darkness gushed out of the headless neck or what was left of it. The darkness pushed outward and formed into slippery tendrils that wiggled around seemingly mindlessly. One of the tendrils found the dead Grand Hellhound and pulled it into the bleeding remains of a neck. Darkness mantled the Grand Hellhound¡¯s remains, shaping them until they fit the frame of the head the Three-eyed Hellhound had just lost. ¡°Did it just?!¡± The Imperial Head cursed, his eyes widened in utter surprise and disgust. ¡°Using corpses to rebuild your body¡­¡± The Beast King muttered, ¡°You must be torn into shreds until you cannot rebuild yourself anymore!¡± A deep rumble escaped the depths of the Beast King¡¯s body, and brightly burning Purgatory Fire burst out of him. The fire gushed out of all open holes, wreathing the Beast King. It burned everything in the immediate surroundings. Even the Imperial Head was forced to step aside to escape the terrifying heat the Purgatory Fire emanates. ¡°Can you burn his powers?¡± The Imperial Head asked the Beast King, licking his lower lips nervously while sweat poured down his temples. ¡°Maybe. I don¡¯t know if the Purgatory Fire works against the darkness,¡± The Beast King shrugged. He didn¡¯t seem to particularly care, ¡°But you can. The darkness didn¡¯t pick up its head. You severed the head. That bright power, whatever it is¡­use it again. Pierce that bastard¡¯s heart!¡± ¡°Alright,¡± The Imperial Head nodded slowly. He took a deep breath and added, ¡°I will go all in. Play with that disgusting imitation for a moment, will you?¡± The Beast King rumbled and shot forward. He was ready to unleash his full power to shred the Three-headed Hellhound if that¡¯s what they had to do to kill it, but he was also curious about what that human was capable of. He wanted to know how much stronger he¡¯d grown since then. ¡°Go for it,¡± He said, propelling forward quickly. He transformed into a living cannonball and disappeared in the blazing hellfire the two intact heads of the Cerberus imitation. The third head shot around, releasing a wave of darkness instead of hellfire. The Beast King coated his body in a few more layers of Purgatory Fire, burning through his mana reserves rapidly, but he arrived before the demonic creature without a scratch. If anything, the Purgatory Fire had grown stronger after devouring a portion of hellfire.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. ¡°I would love to tear you apart, but this is rather interesting,¡± The Beast King mumbled, ¡°So keep still and let me watch this in silence!¡± His claws burst forward, each claw bursting through one intact neck. The Three-headed Hellhound would have roared in pain if that was still possible, but they focused on burning the Beast King instead. At a close distance, the hellfire was supposed to be hot enough to penetrate the Beast King¡¯s defense and burn him alive. Not even Demon Lords of the Seven Hells¡¯ fires wouldn¡¯t remain unscathed in their hellfire. They did not possess an immunity toward fire after all. Even the Beast King was not supposed to be immune to fire. Yet, instead of screaming in pain or burning alive, the Beast King held onto the demonic creature, his eyes trained on the human powerhouse. The Imperial Head¡¯s eyes narrowed to tiny slits, realizing what the Beast King wanted. He should have been afraid of the searing hot flames filling the surroundings, anxious about what would happen once the flames touched him, but there was nothing like that. His ears turned deaf at the cacophony of death curdles, desperate screams, and roars filling the air. His nose stopped differentiating the smell of demon blood, smoke, and sweat, and all his eyes could focus on was a simple point¡ªa point in the Cerberus Imitation¡¯s chest¡ªthe point where he¡¯d pierced the real Cerberus¡¯s heart. Everything around him turned dull, and even his sight turned hazy, other than the point he¡¯d aimed at. The Imperial Head breathed out slowly in an attempt to control his wild heart while activating the Augmentations [Lunar Manifestation], [Moon¡¯s Champion], [Haste], [Perfect Cleave], his longsword¡¯s runic enchantments [Power Strike], [Armor Pierce], and his Ego¡¯s only ability [Herculean Might]. At last, he kicked the ground and shot forward, his mana paths and muscles burning fiercely. The Imperial Head transformed into a flash, swept through the Three-headed Hellhound¡¯s hellfire, and pierced his chest and heart in one smooth move. The hellfire barely grazed his hair when the flames gushing out of the Three-headed Hellhound¡¯s heads ceased. The surrounding temperature was unbearable, and the Imperial Head felt like collapsing at any moment, but he prevailed. The corners of his lips curled upward while his Lunar Mana pulsed wildly, entering the demonic creature¡¯s heart and decimating the darkness within. The Three-headed Hellhound collapsed, its dead eyes staring vengefully at the Imperial Head and the Beast King. ¡°You could have killed it without my help,¡± The Imperial Head commented, his chest heaving with great effort. His sight was still blurry, and his legs threatened to cave in. ¡°I wanted to see it,¡± The Beast King commented lightly. ¡°See what?¡± ¡°How you would fare against one of the Devil¡¯s direct subordinates. The darkness is part of the Devil¡¯s power.¡± ¡°Is that all?¡± The Imperial Knight squinted his eyes. The Beast King smiled at him, but the Imperial Knight only noticed it now that the Purgatory Fire was being retracted, ¡°I know you.¡± ¡°You know me? I don¡¯t think so. I have never participated in the Beast Wars since¡­¡± The Imperial Head shrugged, ¡°Though I know who you are, I don¡¯t think we ever met. The Beast King¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, but the smile didn¡¯t crack. He was certain to be right. He and the Imperial Head met in the past. Not as powerhouses and not with the same titles, yet they met. He clearly remembered who the Imperial Head was. It wasn¡¯t a pleasant memory. Not at its core, at least. Everything was overflowing with blood and death, just like now. However, his memory of the Imperial Head wasn¡¯t as bad. Quite the contrary. The Imperial Head was probably the only good thing about one of his bleakest memories. A memory of a young man, a youngster barely considered an adult, reaching out for him. Stretching a helping hand to a creature his comrades would have considered an enemy. ¡°You aren¡¯t too bad,¡± The Beast King rumbled, ¡°But you won¡¯t be strong enough to defeat the Devil if that¡¯s all you¡¯ve got.¡± The Imperial Head raised an eyebrow, ¡°The Devil is a problem for later. We can¨C...¡± Before he could finish his sentence, the Imperial Head froze. A terrifying pressure spread across the frontlines all of a sudden. It was accompanied by endless hunger. The Imperial Head swallowed hard, whereas the Beast King spun around, his eyes burning fiercely as he looked at the entrance to the Moonlight Forest. Purgatory Fire burst out of him again, wreathing the Beast King in armor of blazing flames as massive crimson eyes emerged in the darkness of the dying Moonlight Forest. ¡°I found you!!¡± The Beast King roared, kicking the ground to shoot across the battlefield faster than most could follow. He left behind a trail of black flames, burning dozens of Elite Demons alive, but nobody paid any heed to their deaths. Everyone looked in the direction the Beast King had disappeared in. The Devil¡¯s territory. The Moonlight Forest. B3 Chapter 56 - Kings Emergency Fund ¡°It¡¯s a present from the Beast King and the Imperial Head. I do not recall their exact words, but it was something about the teamwork of two nations and a gift of appreciation,¡± The King told Percy in a whisper, but he wasn¡¯t really present. He stared blankly at his sword and maintained it before doing the same with his armor. King Phillip would join the frontlines at the edges of the Meiso Plains soon. The kingdom¡¯s forces needed their king. ¡°How is the Beast King doing?¡± Percy asked, his eyes lingering on the King¡¯s equipment. They were all high-ranked Artifacts, but something about them bothered him. Are the runic enchantments worn out? The enchantments didn¡¯t destroy the Artifact, but the mana flow is a mess. Percy was certain his father could sense his Artifacts¡¯ problem, so he didn¡¯t tell him about it. The King knew what he was doing. Instead of saying something, Percy checked the Silverium Bracelet¡¯s storage, where the corpses of the Demon Lord and the Greater Demons were kept. Nobody wished to drench the royal palace in demon blood, after all. Everything combined is worth more than 300 million Prosperity. Percy was grateful for the Three-headed Hellhound¡¯s corpse and the 40-ish Grand Hellhound carcasses. Any demon body helped Percy progress and earn a small fortune. The more demons emerged from the Moonlight Forest, the more demonic creatures could Percy consume. That would have been extraordinary if something like that would have been enough to solve all issues. But it wasn¡¯t, especially not after news of the Beast King¡¯s injuries spread like wildfire. That wasn¡¯t great. Not at all. The Beast King had been seen mindlessly rushing into the Moonlight Forest after a wave of endless hunger flooded the battlefield. Nobody could tell what exactly happened after that because the power of the demonic forces increased. Lesser Demons grew more resilient and aggressive all of a sudden, whereas the innate powers of the Elite Demons improved considerably. The worst enemies left to deal with would have been the Greater Demons if the strongest members of the Beast Legions hadn¡¯t killed them in time. Nobody was prepared for a sudden boost in the demonic forces¡¯ power, but nobody had to be worried with the Beast Legions joining the battle. Reports stated that there had been massive explosions in the Moonlight Forest and that the Beast King didn¡¯t return until the waves of demons had been taken care of. However, the Beast King wasn¡¯t unscathed. He was injured, his army hanging down his shoulder, mere threads of flesh and skin connecting the arm to the shoulder. Rumors of the Beast King¡¯s injuries spread like wildfire, and they affected the nations¡¯ morale as expected. It plummeted drastically. If the Beast King couldn¡¯t deal with the Devil, who could? ¡°The Angy family and the Mythic Healers put their heads together and devised a proper treatment plan for the Beast King. They reattached the Beast King¡¯s arm and tended to his other wounds with great care,¡± The King sighed, ¡°He is fine now and still not scared of the Devil. If anything, the Beast King wants to return to the Moonlight Forest and deal the finishing blow to kill the Devil once and for all. His confidence is remarkable, but the armies are¡­ Morale is at an all-time low. The Devil¡¯s move instilled fear in their hearts.¡± ¡°At least the Beast King isn¡¯t afraid. He must have fought the Devil on equal footing. Somewhat. If not for that, the Devil would have killed the Beast King to shatter the Beastlands and the Kainesh Kingdom alliance. He wouldn¡¯t have missed the chance to tear our forces apart,¡± Percy noted, ¡°The Devil is still not strong enough to fight our strongest forces openly.¡± Percy was glad his father acknowledged his theory with a nod. The Devil was not weak, but it was also logical to conclude that he wasn¡¯t strong enough to deal openly with the allied forces of the Beastlands and the Kainesh Kingdom. The Devil was still not as strong as he had been when he fought the Old King head-on. That was their only advantage. Thinking of his grandfather, Percy¡¯s head tilted to the side, ¡°I have been wondering about this for a while now, but what is the Old King doing?¡± ¡°You know that he¡¯s been reaching something in the royal crypt, right? He returned yesterday and has been seen running around, preparing¡­something. I¡¯m not sure what he is doing, but it must be something important. Father is the only survivor in the fight against the Devil two hundred years ago. He must be worried,¡± Phillip answered before pulling back to the main topic.If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. ¡°It¡¯s our greatest fortune that the Devil is still weakened. But we don¡¯t know how long that weakened state will last now that the Devil is back in the mortal realm. The Moonlight Forest is dying. The abundance of nature and life is withering.¡± The Moonlight Forest¡¯s lifeforce was being drained, and the process accelerated right after the Beast King returned to the frontlines. ¡°The Devil forcefully extracts the Moonlight Forest¡¯s life to lick his wounds and to grow stronger,¡± Percy murmured, ¡°So, that¡¯s why you¡¯re moving to the frontlines.¡± King Phillip nodded slowly, ¡°We need to stop the Devil before it is too late.¡± That was an obvious remark if Percy ever saw one. ¡°I can join the frontlines as well. If someone needs me in the capital, I can return through a portal,¡± Percy offered. He wasn¡¯t itching for a battle, but Percy was unwilling to stay back and let others risk their lives if he could do the same. ¡°Not yet,¡± the King said, looking away. He couldn¡¯t meet Percy''s eyes and cleared his throat instead, ¡°I need you for something else.¡± Percy¡¯s brows arched, ¡°How can I help you?¡± ¡°I heard you can use your Ego on the Cards you¡¯ve loaned to your employees. Can you Ego-enhance my Monster Cards too?¡± The King knew all about his Ego, including how it was supposed to work. ¡°I sell you the Monster Cards in exchange for your service, and you loan me my ¨C your ¨C Monster Cards until the day I die in exchange for my emergency fund,¡± The King explained when he saw Percy¡¯s expression. He retrieved a paper, a binding contract with various clauses explaining what the King had just said. ¡°You¡¯re prepared,¡± Percy noted calmly, ¡°But didn¡¯t you use your savings for the Moonlight Wolf Cards already? I¡¯m sure the Minister of Finances didn¡¯t give you access to the treasury¡¯s emergency fund.¡± Phillip Kain smiled confidently and lifted his arm, exposing a Silverium Bracelet Percy had never seen. ¡°An emergency fund and savings aren¡¯t the same,¡± he pointed at the Silverium Bracelet. This is my personal emergency fund.¡± Smart. Percy flashed his father a smile and retrieved a quill and ink to sign the contract. The King had already signed the contract and smiled even after the interfaces emerged before Percy. Four Interfaces belonged to the King¡¯s Cards, and a fifth interface revolved all around the emergency funds. The King removed the Silverium Bracelet and handed it to Percy, who accepted it with a smile. ¡°Do you want me to consume the bracelet as well, or do you want to keep it?¡± ¡°The bracelet as well?¡± King Phillip winced but nodded slowly after a few seconds, ¡°Do it. It''ll be worth it if it helps me defeat the Devil.¡± Thus, Percy did exactly what he had been asked for. He used [Consume] on the King¡¯s Silverium Bracelet and everything stored within. The Abomination burst out, cracking Percy¡¯s hand without actually harming it, and swallowed the Silverium Bracelet whole. Yet, rather than digesting the Silverium Bracelet in one go, the Abomination had to extract everything slowly to avoid harming the spatial storage before everything had been consumed. Several seemingly endless minutes passed before the Abomination was done. Everything had been consumed and digested, resulting in a food of mana and a series of notifications. [Goods worth 726,836,236 Prosperity have been consumed.] [Your Tier increased by one rank.] Percy¡¯s hair stood up to its end as the two notifications popped up. ¡°What¡­exactly did you put in your emergency fund? I saw a dozen Imperial Coins and piles of gold coins, but¡­¡± The King smiled, but it seemed sad, ¡°It contained almost everything I collected since I gained access to mana. I never had to use my coins for anything until you started with your Ego-enhancement service. There were probably a dozen Guardian Monster Cards and two Overlord Monster Cards. The Overlord Monster Cards are probably the most valuable. I would have replaced them with two Cards of mine if I¡¯d ever advanced to an Exalted Gifted, but¡­I gave up on that.¡± Realizing that he would never make it to the Exalted Tier like his father was painful, but it required courage. The King was brave enough to understand what his limit was. He comprehended what was best for the Kingdom and sacrificed two of the strongest Monster Cards in the kingdom to help Percy and enhance the Monster Cards he could use right now. ¡°Do you want me to focus on the Boost Augmentations and push them as high as possible, or should I focus on unsealing all locked Augmentations? I don¡¯t know how fast you¡¯ll comprehend the new Augmentations or if they will distract you,¡± Percy explained. ¡°What do you want me to do?¡± The King looked at his son, his vibrant azure eyes glimmering vibrantly. ¡°You know what you¡¯re doing, son. I trust you,¡± Phillip responded with a smile, ¡°Help me grow strong enough to survive¨C to defeat the Devi.¡± Percy swallowed hard, realizing what his father had wanted to say. His hands trembled all while mana flooded every inch of his body, and he nodded. ¡°I will make sure you defeat him!¡± Percy declared, the confidence in his voice overflowing. ¡°Trust me.¡± B3 Chapter 57 - Dragon Blood ¡°The others have already received your help, didn¡¯t they?¡± Percy glanced at his father as he was about to finish upgrading the last four Monster Cards. ¡°Are you talking about the Orders and the Pillars? Yeah. I offered everyone my help as long as they prepared the Prosperity needed to upgrade their armaments and Monster Cards. That¡¯s also why I¡¯m about to advance to the Ascended Tier soon.¡± The King¡¯s emergency fund was also part of why he would reach the Ascended Tier in no time, but his father wasn¡¯t the only one who had been forced to tap into their savings to use Percy¡¯s Ego. He was advancing rapidly and would reach the Ascended Tier before turning 18 years old, which had to be some sort of record, but it didn¡¯t feel real to Percy. ¡°I am about to be done,¡± Percy intercepted his father as notifications of some upgrades entered his view. [Shadow Serpent¡¯s Potential [Evolved?????] has been upgraded. 15,000,000 Prosperity has been consumed.] ¡­ [Shadow Serpent¡¯s Potential[Guardian??] has been upgraded. 100,000,000 Prosperity has been consumed. [Shadow Serpent¡¯s Potential increased to [Guardian???]. Shadow Serpent advances to Colossus Shadow Serpent.] [Colossus Shadow Serpent¡¯s Augmentation [Shadow Step?????] has been upgraded. 50,000,000 Prosperity has been consumed.] [[Shadow Step?????] evolved to [Ghost Step?].] [Giant of the Bronze Spires¡¯ Augmentation[Greater Strength Boost??] has been upgraded. 30,000,000 Prosperity has been consumed. ¡­ [Mutant Wyrm¡¯s Augmentation [Crown of Darkness????] has been upgraded. 100,000,000 Prosperity has been consumed. ¡­ [Six-armed Troll¡¯s Augmentation [Greater Endurance Boost??] has been improved. 20,000,000 Prosperity has been consumed.] [Six-armed Troll¡¯s Augmentation [Rapid Regeneration?????] has been upgraded. 30,000,000 Prosperity has been consumed.] [[Rapid Regeneration?????] evolved to [Monster Regeneration?].] Every Monster Card, four in total, received Ego-enhancements worth 200,000,000 Prosperity. That was slightly more than the King¡¯s emergency funds, but Percy ignored that fact. He consumed several Grand Hellhound carcasses to make up for the missing millions and ensured his father¡¯s power would be as close to the Beast King¡¯s strength as possible. ¡°How do you feel?¡± Percy asked while his father winced in discomfort. ¡°Great. I feel¡­perfect,¡± Phillip tried hard to hide his true feelings, but his son could see through it all. ¡°I know how painful and uncomfortable it is to grow stronger and faster suddenly. The improvement of Augmentations is not natural. Usually, you feel a little bit odd when you first link to a Monster Card in a safe environment, and nothing will change until the summoned Monster either dies or you remove the Card. This is different. Your body has already gotten used to the Augmentations, but they¡¯re suddenly growing stronger. It will take a day or two to get used to everything, but you should be stronger, faster, and more durable afterward.¡± King Phillip smiled at Percy, but he didn¡¯t look convinced. Suddenly, a commotion rang out from behind, and the Queen, Percy¡¯s maternal grandmother, and the Old King entered the King¡¯s office. Emilia Dark¡¯s wrinkled cheeks were flushed red in anger, eyes filled with fury glued to the Old King. ¡°You cannot do that, Rainhard! That will kill the kid, you fool!¡± She hissed, while the Queen threw worried glanced from the Old King to her mother and back. ¡°Percy is old enough to decide for himself. I will not force him, but he will know what¡¯s best for the kingdom!¡± The Old King, who was hardly ever called by his real name, snarled back. Percy and his father looked at each other for a few seconds. Nobody seemed to care that the Old King¡¯s silk clothes were covered in dirt and dust, that the old man¡¯s face was deadly pale, or that his smooth, silky hair was disheveled. Small puffs of dust fell out of the mess of his silver hair as he whirled around. What in the Seven Hells did you do to look like this? I¡¯ve never seen him like that. King Phillip was probably of the same opinion. He stared at his father, disbelief glimmering in his eyes. Suddenly, something unexpected happened. The Abomination within Percy stirred violently until it felt like his stomach twisted inside out. However, it didn¡¯t stir in excitement. Not only in excitement, to be precise. It was a confusing mixture of joy, fear, and anxiety. The Old King retrieved something from his pouch. It was a small glass vial filled with a single droplet of some liquid. Black, viscous liquid. ¡°This is dragon blood,¡± The Old King explained, his azure eyes locked onto Percy, ¡°It¡¯s only one drop, but it is incredibly pure. The dragon blood hails from a dragon much stronger than the Azure Dragon. Not even the Azure Dragon¡¯s champion, our first ancestor, was strong enough to defeat the said dragon. There are no tales about our first ancestor¡¯s final fight. The only proof of the terrifying battle is Dragon Fang and this drop of blood.¡±Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation. Is that what the Old King was looking for in the crypt? A drop of dragon blood? Percy was confused but listened intently nonetheless. ¡°Dragon blood is highly potent, the stronger the blood¡¯s owner, the greater its potency. The Kain house is the best example of this statement, as you should know. However, your situation is different, even if compared to the rest of the Kain family. You can tell how potent the Azure Dragon¡¯s blood is, can¡¯t you? After all, you are the first to awaken the Azure Dragon¡¯s bloodline after the first ancestor.¡± Percy didn¡¯t react at first. He expected the Old King to keep talking. However, the old man stopped until Percy nodded faintly. ¡°The dragon blood drop is too potent for most to consume, but I think you can do it. You awakened the Azure Dragon¡¯s bloodline, so you should be able to endure it. Don¡¯t look at me like that. I am getting to the good point,¡± The Old King cleared his throat, ¡°Dragon blood is an excellent resource to increase your strength.¡± He looked at his son and added, ¡°That¡¯s how I defeated the Devil two centuries ago. I consumed some of the Azure Dragon¡¯s blood. It was kept away safely, only to be used when the realm¡¯s existence was endangered. I defeated the Devil, injured his Essence even, but the Azure Dragon¡¯s blood was too potent.¡± The Old King¡¯s head dropped, one hand hovering above his chest. ¡°The Devil never managed to injure you. It was the dragon blood. The aftermath of consuming the Azure Dragon¡¯s blood.¡± The Old King didn¡¯t move an inch. He didn¡¯t have to. Percy understood everything perfectly.y A good minute of silence passed as various thoughts flashed through everyone¡¯s minds. ¡°How about I take it?¡± King Phillip offered, but his voice was unstable, his features filled with uncertainty. ¡°You won¡¯t survive it, son. I don¡¯t think you would reach the Moonlight Forest alive if you consume it,¡± The Old King shook his head. He regained his composure and looked at the King, ¡°I consumed the Azure Dragon¡¯s blood when I was already at the Exalted Tier, yet I barely survived it.¡± His head flicked to Percy, ¡°But he can make it. I¡¯m sure of it. Dragon Fang bonded to him. It feels like the Syreablade is part of his body. It is natural, almost like Dragon Fang belongs to his body. But that is not all. He awakened the Azure Dragon¡¯s bloodline. Even after I consumed its blood, I never awakened anything.¡± The Queen and her mother stepped forward, but the Old King ignored them and finished what he had to say. ¡°I think Devil¡¯s Touch might have altered Percy¡¯s body. Not only did the Devil¡¯s power trickle into his Ego, changing it forever, but it must have forced the dormant bloodline to surface. Percy is different than we are,¡± He sighed deeply, ¡°In the worst case, he can use his Ego to consume the remains of blood inside his body after consuming it. After trying to digest it properly without using his Ego. ¡°You cannot be serious!¡± The Queen shouted, stomping forward, ready to fight the Old King if that was needed to take the vial of dragon blood away. However, Percy was faster. The air crackled as he appeared before the Old King. He took the Old King by surprise and obtained the dragon blood. Yet, even now, no interface popped up. He couldn¡¯t consume it, even if he¡¯d wanted to. Simultaneously, the Abomination was going wild, split between urging Percy to escape and forcefully devouring the dragon''s blood. ¡°What do you want me to do?¡± Percy asked the Old King, who shrugged slowly, the pain of guilt lingering in his eyes. ¡°This is not my choice to make. You have to make a decision,¡± He said seriously, ¡°Maybe your father, the Imperial Head, and the Beast King will be strong enough to deal with the Devil on their own. Nobody knows that for sure. But if they¡¯re not strong enough¡­ If they¡¯re not strong enough, consuming the dragon blood doesn¡¯t mean you¡¯ll certainly survive or that you will be strong enough to defeat the Devil. I might have been strong enough to defeat the Devil at that time, but I was already at the Exalted Tier at that time. I have no idea what the dragon blood will do to you since you are different from me at that time. It might grant you temporary power, or it could alter your physique forever.¡± That was not necessarily helpful. Percy¡¯s expression distorted in frustration. He was unsure what to do. Of course, Percy hoped for the best and that his strength wouldn¡¯t be needed. It would be perfect if nobody needed him. But what if his power was needed? What if they needed the power he could acquire through the dragon blood? Hoping for the best was great, but expecting the worst was necessary in times like these. Percy ignored the Abomination¡¯s fear and gathered the courage needed to remove the cap before swallowing the dark, viscous drop in one go. Even the Queen and her mother¡¯s screams didn¡¯t stop him. The two women reaced Percy¡¯s side. Emilia Dark tried to open Percy¡¯s mouth to extract the dragon blood before it was too late, but Percy kept his mouth shut and swallowed. ¡°You idiot!!¡± His grandmother scowled, true concern glimmering in her eyes. Meanwhile, the Queen burst into tears. ¡°I will be fine¨C...¡± Percy tried saying reassuringly, but his throat was on fire. It was searing hot and melting on the spot. At least, that was what it felt like. However, the sensation didn¡¯t remain in his throat. It spread down his neck and reached his intestines, where it spread rapidly. Within seconds, the sensation of melting alive occupied every part of his body. [Cataclysmic Dragon¡¯s Blood has been detected.] [The User¡¯s existing bloodline retaliates.] [The Azure Dragon¡¯s bloodline has been crushed. Cataclysmic Dragon¡¯s blood entered the User¡¯s bloodstream.] [Connection to the Cataclysmic Dragon¡¯s Fang ¨C Syreablade(Dragon Fang) ¨C has been detected. Cataclysmic Dragon¡¯s hostility subsided.] [Syreablade(Dragon Fang) has been strengthened.] [Augmentations have been unlocked/enhanced.] [The User¡¯s [Dragonblood?] Augmentation upgrades to [Cataclysmic Dragon?????].] [Inadequate physique has been detected. Reshaping has been initiated.] A massive, eerily black dragon surged out of Percy as the flood of notifications popped up. It filled the entire office at once and released a primal roar that reverberated across the Kainesh Kingdom. The palace walls shook violently and threatened to collapse, but the dragon¡¯s roar ceased before the palace¡¯s foundation caved in. The dragon¡¯s hall disappeared again. It returned to Percy¡¯s, whose eyes glowed pitch-black for a moment. A moment later, Percy collapsed to the ground, his searing hot body burning his clothes and the wooden floor. He writhed in pain and screamed at the top of his lungs. The Queen and Emilia rushed to help Percy while the King glared daggers at the Old King. ¡°I will kill you if he dies. I hope this much is clear,¡± The King threatened, but the Old King merely nodded. ¡°If I¡¯m still alive to be killed, you mean,¡± He responded sternly, before adding more gently, ¡°Percy made his decision. Let¡¯s make sure he won¡¯t regret it.¡± It was time to move to war. B3 Chapter 58 - The Great Flood A resounding pulse swept across the Moonlight Forest, almost like it tried filling dying nature with a final burst of life. But that wasn¡¯t what happened. The towering trees crumbled and collapsed, and even the most resilient plant life withered. As the resounding pulse filled the Moonlight Forest, it was like a final struggle. It lasted only a few seconds but was a beautiful sight. The dying Moonlight Forest¡¯s retaliation was magnificent. However, it was also saddening. No matter how much it had struggled to overcome the demons¡¯ corruption, all life succumbed to the overbearing pulse. The monsters collapsed to the ground, writhing weakly in pain until the life in their eyes dimmed, the shrubs caved in, and even the oldest trees with the deepest roots fell apart. The Moonlight Forest was dead. The beautiful yet dangerous place was no more. Dark motes, black sparkles shimmering in the vibrant afternoon sun, oozed from the dead across the Moonlight Forest and pulled to its center, where the Devil was already waiting for them. The Devil engulfed in dark motes, pulled the black sparkles closer until they reached the mass of darkness wreathing his body. More and more dark motes, formed from the lifeforce of the creatures all over the Moonlight Forest, gathered and connected. They formed layers atop the Devil¡¯s blood-soaked hide, mended his wounds, and fueled him with power. The dark motes pulsed weakly and transformed as the mass expanded. They formed a cocoon around the Devil, forcing him into a short slumber. The Devil¡¯s eyes were weary, his body crushed from his exchange with the Beast King. ¡°Just a little. A little bit more time,¡± The Devil rumbled, his head flicking toward the Kainesh Kingdom¡¯s capital, ¡°My only mistake was to mark one of your kin. If not for that infant annexing¡­¡± Since the rise of the Devils, there had never been a case like this. The Devil¡¯s power was supposed to be unparalleled. Their Essence was not supposed to retaliate against their master, let alone allow someone to annex it. Something like that was not supposed to happen. It was not within the laws of the possible. Percy shouldn¡¯t have been able to resist, nor should it have been possible for the Abomination to grow this strong in a human body. Or to change like this. The Devil could still sense the power residing within Percy¡¯s Abomination. Its perception increased drastically when the Abomination crossed its natural limit by annexing more of the power the Devil had granted other Demons. But the worst was that the Devil could also sense what the Abomination felt. He could sense the Abomination¡¯s excitement, its hunger, and¡­its fear. The fear struck the Devil square in the chest. It confused the Devil and reminded him of the two times it had felt fear since the rise of the Devil. ¡°The child¡­What is it doing?¡± The Abomination shrieked in fear. It was desperate and wanted nothing more than to escape Pecy¡¯s body. The desperation stunned the Devil. However, the sudden silence was truly shocking. Something was changing again, but the Devil couldn¡¯t perceive anything. The Abomination calmed down. It accepted its fate. Then. Then, there was nothing. The Devil couldn¡¯t sense the Abomination anymore. At last, their connection had been severed. ¡°What is strong enough to¡­¡± The Devil ground his teeth, a deep growl escaping his lips. Darkness gushed out of his body. It pierced through the cocoon of dark motes, tapped into the power accumulated within it, and made one last move. ¡°Since you¡¯re rushing me¡­what do you think about that?!¡± The Devil rumbled, and his power, amplified through the dark motes cocoon, surged into the Infernal Lairs. The Infernal Lairs expanded rapidly for a good minute until the Devil removed his power again. A third of the dark motes were now dim and dispersed into the surroundings, but the Devil didn¡¯t care. He was not satisfied with the situation, but it was good enough. I will get my power back. Just you wait, cretin! I am coming for you!!Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. The Devil closed his eyes one last time, gathering the last bits of power to mend his old and new wounds, and waited patiently for the beginning of the end. The final battle. ¡°Fight,¡± His will flooded the masses of demons emerging through the Infernal Lair, ¡°Defeat them. Swallow them in your masses until no one is left. Kill them all!¡± Endless streams of Demons ¨C Lesser, Elite, Greater, and Lords ¨C stepped out of the Infernal Lairs; they shoved each other aside and surged out in massive waves. The Demons were on their way. They charged through the remains of the Moonlight Forest, ready to face the living forces of the mortal realm. Hungry. Excited. Thirsty for blood. The Great Flood was coming. *** The initial phase of the demon flood wasn¡¯t too bad. It was manageable as the powerhouses on the kingdom¡¯s side combined their forces to take out the Demon Lords before they reached the first line of defense. The Beast King opened a path for the Imperial Head and King Phillip to block the first Demon Lord and take advantage of the momentary numerical advantage to eliminate the threat. The Beast King, Imperial Head, and King Phillip retreated after their first kill and prepared for the second attack. They located the next Demon Lord, attacked again, and killed him on the spot. There weren¡¯t many Demon Lords in the flood of demons. Of course, there weren¡¯t many. Demon Lords didn¡¯t grow on trees, after all. That is if there were any trees in the Seven Hells in the first place. But while the threat of the Demon Lords was manageable so long the Devil stayed far away from the battlefield, the same couldn¡¯t be said about the rest. The number of Lesser Demons and Elite Demons emerging from the Moonlight Forest was terrifying, to say the least. Even the Greater Demons easily reached three digits. And that was just the beginning. It was merely the start of an endless flood of demonic creatures. Thousands of Monsters were summoned to fight on their Cardist¡¯s side, both Augmentations and Egos were unleashed to decimate as many Lesser Demons in the shortest possible time, and Ancient Powers were hurled around, crushing Elite Demons¡¯ skulls and mending allies¡¯ wounds. Once Monster Cards, Augmentations, and Ancient Powers were unleashed to the fullest, it looked like the situation would improve. That was until the second wave of demons surged forward. The common soldiers showed signs of exhaustion as the second wave commenced. Most of them hadn¡¯t been present during the last war. Even if they had been active during the Beast War, nobody could prepare anyone for the terrors of an all-out war with the Seven Hells. Demonic creatures were born predators. Demonic Essence oozed from their bodies naturally, spreading a presence akin to fear into the surroundings. Only those with a strong mind could ignore the presence hanging heavily in the air. Even then, it wasn¡¯t possible to be immune to it. Ignoring the presence didn¡¯t mean it disappeared. It was still present, informing you of its presence like a whisper in one¡¯s ears. If that had been all, many Gifted Ones wouldn¡¯t be struggling with mental exhaustion this soon into the battle. However, the constant fighting, the death rattles of their colleagues¡­their friends, their death eyes staring at them blamingly, and the demons¡¯ screeches resounding in their eyes, reminding them that their struggle to survive wasn¡¯t over yet. Body parts of their allies spread across the black, blood-soaked soil, and the carcasses of demons started to pile up, yet the number of demonic creatures charging forward never seemed to cease. It was no surprise when the first soldiers bawled their eyes out. Their weapons fell to the ground as the will to fight left their bodies. Only moments later, the soldiers spun around to run away, to flee as long as they could still move, but it was too late. They turned their back to the enemies, who pounced on them without hesitation. The Archyeas smashed to the ground, their fangs digging into the necks of the defenseless soldiers. They couldn¡¯t even scream as razor-sharp claws sliced across their throats. The Lesser Demons ripped the soldiers¡¯ heads from their shoulders and hurled them at the other soldiers, crushing their confidence in one go. ¡°Don¡¯t hesitate!¡± Someone roared from the back, ¡°Either we kill them today, or they will kill everyone tomorrow. Defeat them! Crush them! Tear them apart!!¡± A young man covered in a thin metal brigandine armor charged past a squad of crushed soldiers. His ears perked up, and his tail twitched violently as he pushed forward. He grasped his spear tightly and hurled it across the remaining distance to the closest Archyeas. The spear pierced neatly through the Lesser Demon¡¯s skull and emerged on the other side. However, instead of continuing its trajectory, the spear stopped mid-air and pulled back until it returned to the young Demi. The spear returned just in time. Louis spun around, caught the spear, and twisted his body to impale a diving Archyeas before it could strike him. ¡°Good job,¡± A man engulfed in purple blood said, ¡°But next time, don¡¯t run away from us.¡± Erik hurled the Bloodriver Axes into a pair of Byals, killing them on the spot, and clicked his tongue in annoyance when the axes didn¡¯t return to him on command. He had to activate [Bloodweaver] to pull the axe blades out of the Elite Demons¡¯ skulls. Only then did they return to Erik. ¡°And you need to work on this,¡± Tarlek chuckled, shooting past Louis and Erik to cleave cleanly through a Doombringer. The Elite Demon split in half, its intestines gushing out, littering the battlefield. ¡°Nice kill!¡± Louis exclaimed, which Erik cursed softly. ¡°Whatever. Let¡¯s keep going.¡± B3 Chapter 59 - The Devils Appearance Those who kept fighting the flood of demons were strong-willed Gifted. Even the sight of thousands upon thousands of demons didn¡¯t shatter their mental fortitude. The first line of defense may not be enough to block all Demons, but they were enough to pick out the strongest Demons and stall them, ensuring the second and third line of defense wouldn¡¯t be squashed. The first line of defense consisted of the Beast King, the Imperial Head, King Phillip, the Imperials, and the Beast Legions¡¯ Apex. The strongest members of the Knight Orders and the Beast Legions also joined the first line of defense, but they were occasionally seen pulling back to ease the pressure weighing on them. The Demon Lords and Greater Demons occupied the first line of defense, allowing the remaining demonic forces to push forward, where they¡¯d collided with the Knight Orders, the strongest Adventurers of the Guild, and the rest of the Beast Legions. Most Elite Demons and plentiful Lesser Demons faced demise in the face of the powerful Cardists, Egos, and Mythics. They pounced on the enemies with their numbers, but the defenders and their summoned Monsters didn¡¯t give the demonic forces many chances to pass by and reach the final line of defense: the common soldiers led by the Pillars¡¯ heirs. As time passed, the battle¡¯s pace shifted slowly. Many defenders broke through and ranked up after fighting demons for countless hours. They were inching closer to collapsing, exhaustion accumulating slowly. It was increasingly difficult to find time to take a deep breath, let alone to relax, however, the piles of bodies forming after hours of bloody battles were now blocking the Demons. The piles blocked their view of the paths they¡¯d taken the whole time and obstructed their movement. Fewer Demons could strike the defenders in the second line of defense simultaneously. That was exactly what the united forces had been hoping for. They endured a gruesome battle on a small piece of land for hours to form piles of demon corpses, frozen solid or engulfed in rapidly growing vines before retreating a few steps. The aerial demons were still a nuisance, but the Glacial Knights, Archers, and summoned aerial monsters were enough to eliminate the threats from the sky before they could inflict any more damage. Unfortunately, not all problems were solved that way. Even as the number of simultaneous attacks decreased, the flood of demons never ceased. For every demon killed, three followed, trying to replace their lost brethren, whereas the remaining demons charged ahead, pushing past the second line. Time passed gruesomely slowly. Every terrifying minute on the battlefield felt like ten minutes. Nearly everyone was exhausted at some point, yet the pacing of the battlefield seemed to have stabilized. The defenders matched the demonic forces¡¯ pace and devised a strategy to pull some of the united armies out of the war zone. They were pulled back to the makeshift camps where they could rest for a few hours and recover. One demonic wave after another smashed into the defending forces, but everything seemed to be under control at this point. Those who¡¯d survived until this point fought well. They were exhausted, but they had overcome their initial fear. ¡°How long have we been at this?¡± One soldier asked after crashing to the ground. The muscles all over his body were sore, but his legs and arms felt like jelly. Even if he wanted to lift his sword to keep fighting, he couldn¡¯t. The soldier had already surpassed his limit and needed a break. He was covered in blood, not his, but black blood of demons and the crimson blood of the comrades around him. The men and women who had been torn into shreds before his eyes. ¡°Three days,¡± A Mythic Healer commented in response. She used her Ancient Powers to infuse power into the soldier¡¯s body, mending his sore muscles, ¡°It has been three days since the flood started.¡± The soldier sat up straight as the warm, soothing sensation of the Beastman¡¯s healing powers swept through his body and looked ahead. The battlefield wasn¡¯t far from them. They could join the last line of defense within minutes, but the soldier didn¡¯t do that. He barely escaped the hell of a war zone and was glad to be resting.Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. He, just like the other soldiers, wasn¡¯t like the Knight Orders, the Kingsguard, the Imperials, or the Pillars. ¡°It looks like they have endless Stamina, doesn¡¯t it?¡± The Mythic Healer commented, a note of sadness appearing on her lips, ¡°But that¡¯s not the case. Of course, they have more Stamina than the average Gifted Ones, but they expend more mana than others, and carry an even greater responsibility.¡± She looked at the soldier, ¡°If they allow a Greater Demon, or even an Elite Demon, to reach the third line of defense, chaos will ensue. The defense will collapse, and demons will flood the Meiso Plains. But that¡¯s only the beginning. It would only the beginning of chaos¡­of death and destruction.¡± The soldier eyed the Mythic Healer, fear flickering in his eyes, ¡°Why are you telling me that?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± The Mythic Healer shrugged, ¡°All I know is that our current advantage is worth nothing.¡± Other soldiers heard the Mythic Healer¡¯s commentary and frowned at her. ¡°We are grateful for your healing, but why are you so pessimistic? The tides of the battle have changed in our favor. If not for that, we would have never been able to take a break. Our death would be the only break we would be given in the war zone if we were at a disadvantage,¡± another soldier spoke up in displeasure. ¡°I never said we weren¡¯t at an advantage,¡± The Mythic Healer responded. She looked around, noticed dozens of human soldiers glaring at her, and sighed, ¡°The losses are too great. Everyone is exhausted, and even the Pillars are showing signs of slowing down. Their exhaustion is accumulating.¡± She raised her hand and added, ¡°And the Devil has yet to join the battle.¡± The Devil was taking his time entering the war zone. He was stalling time and did a phenomenal job at doing it. The Beast King, King Phillip, and the Imperial Head were still fine. They consumed a few potions to maintain peak conditions, but the Pillars and Apex couldn¡¯t say the same about themselves. They were worn out and made more mistakes as time trickled by, and new enemies with full stamina charged them with full power. ¡°Being pessimistic won¡¯t help us,¡± a soldier snorted. If you don¡¯t think we¡¯re going to win, the least you could have done was to keep silent¡­¡± The Mythic Healer looked at the soldier and shrugged, ¡°I never said we¡¯re going to lose. I¡¯m just telling you to be prepared for the worst.¡± ¡°We have not lost yet,¡± she smiled, her attention returning to the battlefield. We won¡¯t lose.¡± ¡­ The first rays of sunlight washed away the darkness of the night when the dawn of the fourth day arrived. The bright moon had left, decreasing the enhancement of the Imperials¡¯ lunar powers, but that was for the better. Fighting through the night was not an easy feat. It required ample preparation to illuminate the war zone, ensuring all Gifted without Augmentations like [Dark Vision] could see and fight the demonic forces head-on. ¡°The night wasn¡¯t too bad,¡± One of the Imperials pointed out. He¡¯d racked up once at night and was pleased with his contribution for the night. Exhaustion was accumulating, overwhelming hundreds of members from the Knight Orders, yet the survivability of the last night had been the highest. Only a few dozen Elite Gifted died that night. ¡°The calm before the storm,¡± Glacia Knight Liam responded in a whisper, his expression hardened as he and others sensed something from the Moonlight Forest. The hair of all defenders stood up to its end simultaneously as their perception perked up. Their eyes narrowed, and their bodies tensed up as a massive, pitch-black shockwave ravaged the Moonlight Forest, uprooting dead trees and shrubs. Dead monsters of the Moonlight Forest were hurled through the air, but nobody paid any heed to them. The demon flood slowed down and turned around in unison. Yet, instead of giggling and roaring in excitement, as one would expect in a situation like this, the demons didn¡¯t utter a single sound. They stared at the remains of the Moonlight Forest, their bodies trembling in excitement¡ªor was it fear? A large pair of crimson eyes glowed brightly in the darkness of the dead forest. They grew larger as the host of the crimson eyes strode closer to the Moonlight Forest¡¯s edge. The ground tremored violently, yet the demons¡¯ shivers were even worse. A crimson glimmer flashed through their eyes and expanded. It took root within the Demons and intensified the longer they stared into the massive crimson eyes of their ruler¡­their king. Extensive, leathery legs covered in black, jagged scales stepped out of the dead Moonlight Forest and into the light. The creature''s upper body, wreathed in darkness, expanded as it took a deep breath. It faced the defending forces head-on, the glimmer in its glowing eyes growing in intensity as it unleashed an ear-deafening roar that shook everyone in the vicinity to the core. At last, the Devil decided to join the battle, his body rippling in incomprehensible power. And endless hunger. B3 Chapter 60 - Final Struggle Endless hunger spread across the war zone, fueling the demonic forces. They spun around, foam oozing from the corners of their mouths as they roared. Demonic Essence gushed from all over their bodies, and they shot forward, ignoring their brethren as they closed the distance to the neared defender. But they didn¡¯t reach the defenders as a wall of black flames struck them, killing hundreds of Lesser Demons in one go. Their desperate screams as the Purgatory Fire burned them alive resounded, but it didn¡¯t seem to affect the demonic forces. They paved new ways for the defenders and attacked. ¡°Once they fall victim to the Devil¡¯s hunger, their strength and speed increases. They fight more aggressively and will drop their defenses. Take advantage of that!¡± The Beast King roared at the top of his lungs while turning to the Devil. King Phillip, the Pillars, and the Apex issued orders to their forces, preparing them for the final fight. Meanwhile, the soldiers resting in the makeshift camps got up one last time. They were still tired from the constant fighting, but their prowess was needed. It was either now or never. The medics and Healers handed the tired soldiers some potions, which they consumed without a second thought. Their stamina and mana recovered quickly, yet the exhaustion never left their bodies. They would only be able to rest once all of this was over. Once, the Devil was dead, and the demonic forces extinguished. The Beast King was the first to charge forward. He released a few more waves of Purgatory Flames in all directions, burning countless Lesser Demons, whereas the Imperial Head and King Phillip retained their power. All they could afford to spare to help was to give their summoned Monsters a mental command to kill their enemies. The Six-armed Troll, wielding a heavy, spike mace in each hand, squashed Lesser Demons and Elites alike. The Giant of the Bronze Spire swept through the ranks of low-ranking Demons and appeared before a hulking Greater Demon. It didn¡¯t wield an Artifact, but that was not needed in the first place. The King¡¯s Giant roared at the top of his lungs and tore the hulking Greater Demon apart, showering the demons and united forces in black blood alike. The Giant turned to the next victim and pushed forward, only for dozens of silver streaks to pass him. A massive wolf, the Prince of the Moon, followed by its pack of Moonlight Wolves, slaughtered large squadrons of Lesser Demons, their glowing claws and fangs tearing through them like warm butter. The Colossus Shadow Serpent and the Mutant Wyrm of the King also did phenomenal work. However, instead of fighting openly and attracting everyone¡¯s attention, the two summoned Monsters focused on what they were best at. They assassinated powerful enemies by teleporting through shadows and piles of corpses or pierced them with massive spikes jutting out of darkness at a shocking velocity. The other summoned Monsters of the Imperial Head, the Pillars, and most other Cardists performed well, eliminating hundreds of demons with combined efforts. Still, the Ego-enhanced Cards were the most efficient, allowing the summoned Monsters to inflict tremendous damage. More demons emerged from the Moonlight Forest if one could still call it such, but the quantity and quality of demons in the most recent wave were lower than they had been before. That was good, given the Devil¡¯s hunger could transform the weakest demon into a starving monstrosity. The Beast King swatted the demons obstructing his path aside, burning most in the process, and rapidly closed the distance to the Devil, but their enemy was faster. The Devil vanished and appeared above the Beast King suddenly, his fist smashing downward. The Beast King¡¯s wild instincts kicked in, and he lifted his arms, wreathed in Purgatory Fire, barely in time to block the attack. A thunderous crack resounded, and the Beast King groaned, but the fight was not yet over. The Purgatory Fire erupted explosively, and the Devil responded with a snicker. Darkness burst from his body, disrupting the Purgatory Fire and dispersing it in all directions. Contrary to before, the collision of the Devil¡¯s power with Purgatory Fire didn¡¯t result in any explosions. The Devil¡¯s darkness emerged victorious, instantly overwhelming the Purgatory Fire. The brute force of the impacting punch was enough to crack the ground. The Beast King¡¯s feet pressed tightly into the ground, which caved in. His feet sunk into the blood-drenched ground, and the Devil pulled back his other arm to punch again when a silver flash entered the edge of his vision.Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. The Devil twists his body, evading the silver-glowing blade that was about to cut him deeply, and kicked the Imperial Head mid-air. The Imperial Head flung several meters through the air and landed heavily on the ground. He slid across the wet, blood-drenched ground, jumped up in a smooth motion, and dashed to the Devil. King Phillip, unleashed in the strongest form of the Armor of Everlasting Night, faced the Devil head-on. He used the Giant Card¡¯s [Wrath] and [Power Surge] Augmentations and added [Crown of Darkness] in an attempt to stay on equal footing with the Devil, but the situation was not that simple. [Greater Agility Boost], [Greater Strength Boost], and [Greater Endurance Boost] closed the gap between the two parties, but they didn¡¯t fill the gap. He was not an Exalted, and even if he had been, it was not like the Beast King fared much better against the Devil. Right now, the Devil was a monstrosity of incomprehensible power. But the king didn¡¯t care. He evaded a blast of darkness coming his way and used [Ghost Step] to phase through the Devil. He appeared behind the Devil, tapped into his power with [Crown of Darkness], [Darkness Manipulation], and his Ego¡¯s might, decreasing the Devil¡¯s power output for a quarter of a second, and slashed at him. [Wrath] and [Power Surge] did their utmost, but the runic enchantments on the King¡¯s weapon were the game changer. [Absolute Slash], combined with [Greater Sharpness]. The Devil reacted in time, but the Beast King and his Purgatory Fire obstructed him. As the Devil¡¯s power output was forcefully restrained for a quarter of a second, the Beast King gained enough power to fight back and overwhelm the Devil. He blocked him, even if only for a short moment, which was barely enough to cut him once. King Phillip struck the Devil, leaving a deep gash in his chest. The Beast King and others could see the Devil¡¯s wildly beating heart for a second, but that was about it. The Devil roared in anger rather than pain and unleashed a flurry of darkness, repelling the Imperial Head, who had just pounced on the Devil to drive his sword deep into his back. The Devil¡¯s tail coiled around the Beast King¡¯s leg and pulled hard, hurling him through the air. Simultaneously, he reached King Phillip and snapped his arms with quick attacks. The King evaded the worst, but his arms had been broken on the spot. [Monster Regeneration] kicked in, but that was not all. The Healers of the Angy family and Mythics had decided to emerge from the makeshift camps. They joined the battle, mended the injured, and used their Ancient Powers to grant superhuman powers. King Phillip¡¯s arm healed rapidly, but the Devil¡¯s threat was still there. His tail smashed into King Phillip when he least expected it. His rib cage crunched, and the King instinctively knew that several ribs were broken. But he was not dead yet. The Healers and Mythics healed him quickly while supplying him with more power. His eyes turned sharp, and his movements accelerated. King Phillip saw the Devil¡¯s next attack a quarter of a second earlier. That was all he needed to evade it, albeit by a hair¡¯s breadth. ¡°He is still not at full strength!¡± The King roared when the Beast King and Imperial Head returned to his side. They checked on him from the corner of their eyes, ¡°The Old King was stronger during his prime!!¡± That struck a nerve. The Devil vanished and appeared behind King Phillip, whose corners tilted upward. He had activated [Ghost Step] when the Devil disappeared. The Devil¡¯s claws pierced through the king without inflicting any harm while the Beast King and the Imperial Head pushed forward to attack. After some exchanges, the Beast King¡¯s claws finally reached the Devil, but they didn¡¯t inflict much damage. All the Beast King achieved were some cracks in the Devil¡¯s scales. The fight went on for what felt like hours, yet it could only have been mere minutes. The sun had yet to reveal its beauty, engulfing the bloody battlefield in its beautiful light. But something changed slowly. It was almost like the death rattles around them ceased and the desperate screams of the dying died down. The surroundings were eerily silent as more and more Mythics and Cardists diverted their focus to the main battle. They unleashed their Support Augmentations to aid the united forces and used their powers in an attempt to restrain the Devil or slow him down. It wasn¡¯t truly effective, but it felt like the united forces could fight the Devil head-on. Their combined power rivaled the Devil¡¯s strength¡­somewhat. Unfortunately, an individual¡¯s power was more important than the combined prowess of a group. A single mistake was all it took to destroy everything. The Devil was aware of that and focused on the weakest chain in the united forces. Suddenly, he vanished into thin air, and the corners of his lips curled into a devious smile. The three powerhouses realized something was happening, but they didn¡¯t expect the Devil¡¯s next move to be so¡­dirty. The Devil appeared in the masses of Mythics and Cardists, who¡¯d charged ahead to help their leader, a resounding cackling escaping his lips as he tore through humans and Beastmen alike. Blood splattered everywhere, and body parts were flung around carelessly. The powerhouses turned to the bloody sight and propelled forward to help, but it was already too late. More than half of the Cardists and Mythics coming for the united forces¡¯ help had been exterminated. And the Devil had just started. B3 Chapter 61 - Death Everything went downhill after the Devil changed his tactic. The Cardists and Mythics supporting the Beast King, the Imperial head, and King Phillip transformed into the Devil¡¯s prime targets and were slaughtered like livestock. As the sight unfolded before the Beast King and others, they didn¡¯t waste any time and rushed to their supporters. The Mythics and Cardists weren¡¯t strong enough to block the Devil¡¯s ruthless attacks, let alone defeat such a monstrosity. They were torn apart like pieces of paper. The sight was painful and it was too much for the Imperial Head and the others to bear. They were affected by their people¡¯s death. That much wasn¡¯t surprising. The Devil sensed their loss of control and struck again. He moved right before tearing a middle-aged woman of the Angy family apart. She screamed one moment, the Devil tightly clutching her in his hands, and in the next moment, the Devil was no more. He appeared beside the Imperial Head, his claws coated in darkness. The darkness shaped into short blades and solidified instantly, ready to strike, which was precisely what the Devil did. His arms shot forward without hesitation, one blade piercing cleanly through the Imperial Head armor¡¯s runic enchantment while the other blade pierced straight through the armor. All the Imperial Head saw was a devious smile on the Devil¡¯s lips as the attack succeeded. The darkness blade pierced the armor, striking the Imperial Head where it hurt the most. ¡°It¡¯s not over yet!¡± He growled, but the Devil cackled as he pulled the darkness blades back faster than the Imperial Head could see. A moment later, the darkness blades shot forward again. The Imperial Head tried to move away. To flee from the scene, but it was only now that he noticed his legs were engulfed in solidified darkness. The Devil had captivated him, retracted the blades again, and thrust them through his armor again¡­and again and again. The Imperial Head¡¯s eyes widened. He thought the first time might have been a surprise, but that didn¡¯t seem to be the case. The Devil had compressed enough of his power into the darkness blades to pierce the Imperial Head¡¯s armor as long as he applied enough force. And that was no issue for the Devil. He was strong enough to crush the Beast King¡¯s arm. Applying enough force to stab an armored human didn¡¯t seem like a big deal. To the Devil, at least. The Imperial Head¡¯s eyes widened. First in shock, then in surprise, and finally in disbelief. He couldn¡¯t fathom what was happening, even though it was obvious. Was he going to die like this? No. He couldn¡¯t. There was no way he was allowed to die like this. No!! The Imperial Head unleashed [Herculean Might] at its fullest, and added [Moon¡¯s Champion] and [Lunar Manifestation] with every bit of Lunar Mana he could find in his mana reservoir before adding the Augmentation [Haste] and [Perfect Cleave]. He overclocked [Haste], draining his lifeforce and Essence instead of mana to surpass his limit, and coughed up blood as his longsword burst forward. The runic enchantments [Power Strike] and [Armor Pierce] triggered with the remnants of Lunar Mana stored in the sword, and it started glowing bright like the full moon when [Lunar Manifestation] coated it. The Imperial Head prepared everything in a split second. He didn¡¯t have more time than that, either way. His arm burst forward, the longsword whizzing toward the Devil with deadly speed. It was about to hit the Devil, piercing his throat, ending the mortal realm¡¯s misery, when the Devil¡¯s neck twisted. It cracked and crunched, twisting inhumanly. If the enemy had been anything else but the Devil, it would be dead. A head wasn¡¯t supposed to be in a position like that. However, they fought the Devil. And all he did as a response to the Imperial Head¡¯s attack was to laugh. He evaded the glowing blade by a hair¡¯s breadth, but he did it. His head snapped back, and he roared with laughter. He turned to the Beast King and King Phillip, cracking an evil smile, before glancing at the Imperial head.Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. His maw opened wide, the Devil¡¯s darkness gushing out to repel the Beast King and King Phillip before they could stop bit, and his head shot down, biting off the Imperial Head¡¯s¡­head. ¡­ The death of the Cardists and Mythics had already been bad, but the Imperial Head¡¯s demise destroyed everything. The King lost one of his best men, the man who¡¯d raised and trained him when his father was busy with politics and the grief of losing the only person he had truly loved. King Phillip stared blankly at the headless body of the man who had known him from the day he was born. The Devil exploited King Phillip¡¯s grief to teleport to him and attack. It was a perfect tactic, using the human race¡¯s greatest weakness against them: Their fragile emotions. The Devil¡¯s darkness blades expanded suddenly, with one of them coming for King Phillip¡¯s head. The King twisted his body to an uncomfortable degree to evade the attack. It was an instinctive movement and exactly what the Devil had been hoping for. The straps on King Phillip¡¯s armor were severed all of a sudden, just like the king¡¯s sword arm. The darkness blade whipped through the air, severing the King¡¯s arm when he twisted his body to protect his head. A terrifying scream reverberated through the surroundings as the King¡¯s arm flung through the air, but the Devil was not yet done. He executed several well-placed slashes, removing the King¡¯s armor once and for all. The Devil laughed, enjoying the scenery unfolding before him, until the Beast King, wreathed in Purgatory Fire, smashed into him. The darkness blades diminished after missing the Beast King¡¯s eye and heart, while the Beast King¡¯s searing hot fist smashed into the Devil. [Monster Regeneration] kept King Phillip alive and sealed his wound, but the shock of everything unfolding around him was too intense. He couldn¡¯t move, his eyes trailing to his friend¡¯s headless body. He felt like vomiting and would have done so if the Beast King¡¯s roar didn¡¯t pull him back to his senses. ¡°Get back to your senses, or everyone you love will die!!¡± He rumbled, his voice filled with pain as the Devil¡¯s claws coated in darkness swept across his chest, leaving deep, badly bleeding marks. The Beast King cauterized his wounds, burning them with Purgatory Fire a moment after the Devil inflicted them. Nonetheless, the damage was done. The Imperial Head was dead, King Phillip lost his sword arm and motivation to keep fighting, and the Beast King alone wasn¡¯t powerful enough to deal with the Devil. It was only a matter of minutes before he would be pushed to the verge of death as well. That couldn¡¯t be. They couldn¡¯t be losing. But the situation was bleak. The soldiers were scared to death, hundreds of common soldiers deserted on the spot when they saw the Imperial Head¡¯s carcass alongside their king¡¯s behavior. If their king couldn¡¯t fight anymore, why should they keep risking their lives? But most soldiers, whether they¡¯d planned to desert or not, weren¡¯t given the opportunity. Death was everywhere, and the Demons were hungry. Dozens of Byals dove to the grounds and crushed a squad of Glacia Knights. They tore their armor apart or pierced their throats with their razor-sharp claws right away. They didn¡¯t hesitate and started devouring the Glacia Knights¡¯ bodies. The other Knight Orders, or the Guild¡¯s Adventurers, didn¡¯t fare any better. The morale of all defenders was crushed, shattered into thousands of tiny fragments. Nobody could flee. They were torn apart. At last, the demonic forces breached the last line of defense. It was over. They were defeated. The Kainesh Kingdom was lost. The Devil had won. Tears trickled down the cheeks of the lost souls. They cried their hearts out, guilt, sadness, and fear filling their hearts. ¡°I don¡¯t want to die¨C...¡± One of the soldiers sobbed, his legs giving in as three Archyeas dove for him. Their claws were just about to tear the soldier¡¯s head off his shoulders when white, dagger-sized feathers pierced through the back of their heads. The Archyeas crashed dead to the ground right next to the soldiers, who screamed in terror when streams of darkness filled with rows of jagged teeth smashed into the corpses right next to him. The soldier¡¯s pants were wet, but hope blossomed in his heart. He looked up to see a glimmer glacier-blue spot levitating above the bloody battlefield. ¡°Surrender the ownership of all corpses. Everything!!¡± A familiar voice resounded across the battlefield like a thunderstorm. ¡°NOW!¡± B3 Chapter 62 - Arrival Nobody knew what was happening, but everyone moved instinctively, doing exactly what the voice had commanded. Most didn¡¯t even recognize the voice, yet the words struck their heart chords. It gave them something they¡¯d lost not too long ago. A glimmer of hope blossoming in their hearts. Percy had arrived. He stood atop Blue, who levitated in the air the war zone, his unwavering eyes scanning the situation below. Sadness filled his heart at the sight of the corpses sprawled all over the battlefield. Too many good people had died. Brave people who fought for the mortal realm¡¯s survival. It was saddening. Frustrating. Unfair. But Percy didn¡¯t falter. He swallowed his emotions and didn¡¯t respond with fury even as his eyes fell upon the Imperial Head¡¯s headless corpse. Only a single word formed on his lips. ¡°Shit.¡± [Demon Lord (Lord of Gnylds) ¨C Demonic/Titled ¨C 174,235,864 Prosperity] [Grand Hellhound(Greater Demon) ¨C Demonic ¨C2,735,712 Prosperity] [Thyrx(Greater Demon) ¨C Demonic ¨C 2,252,521 Prosperity] [Mutant Pleacis(Elite Demon) ¨C Demonic ¨C 185.368 Prosperity] ¡­ ¡­ ¡­ Countless interfaces spread all over the battlefield, including numerous interfaces belonging to the corpses of the united forces. His Ego didn¡¯t differentiate them. As long as they didn¡¯t belong to anyone, Percy¡¯s Ego would consider it a possible source of nourishment and Prosperity. We are not going to start like that! Only in the worst-case scenario¡­if everything is lost¡­ Percy was not ready to go down that path. He did not want to be like the Devil. He wanted to be different. However, if the situation took a turn for the worse, even worse than it already was, Percy would have to sacrifice his morals and codex. But not yet. There was still hope!! The Glacial Roc screeched aloud, releasing dozens of ice feathers in a moment of fury. Blue sensed Percy¡¯s whirlwind of emotions and reacted by eliminating more Demons, both Lesser and Elite, with its razor-sharp and high-velocity ice feathers. Blue had grown. It was still juvenile, but the azure-blue bird carrying Percy through the sky was almost twice as big as it used to be. Upgrading the Glacial Roc, using the Prosperity acquired from the Three-headed Hellhound and 40ish Grand Hellhounds was more than enough to increase Blue¡¯s Potential and upgrade [Advanced Agility Boost] as much as needed to reach the battlefield from the Portal Gate within minutes. ¡°You!!!¡± The Devil roared, his crimson eyes glowing in ecstasy when he found the cretin who¡¯d stolen his power, ¡°You put my fragment to good use. It has grown a lot.¡± The Devil rumbled, darkness gushing forth, ¡°Let me take it back now!¡± Darkness shot forth like a cannonball, shifting into a spear while traversing through the air. Blue mana circulating through the monster¡¯s body never stopped using [Roc Eyes] since they had entered the battlefield. The Glacial Roc detected the spear¡¯s trajectory the moment it was thrown, and it used its great reflexes and extraordinary speed to evade it by a feather¡¯s breadth. Percy held tightly onto the Glacial Roc and faced the Devil head-on with a grim smile. A roar escaped his lips, steering the hearts of those around him. ¡°This is not your power anymore. I have claimed what once belonged to you. It¡¯s mine now! Your scheme failed!¡± Percy unleashed the Abomination before the Devil could make his next move. He let it loose. An eerie mass of darkness burst out of Percy¡¯s palms in shocking quantities. The Abomination gushed out of Percy, forming a massive sphere overhead until it was dozens of times larger than he was. The Devil was about to make a move, stopping Percy and the Abomination in their wake, when the Beast King smashed into the Devil. His claws pierced through the already-shattered scales and dug deep into the Devil¡¯s chest. An annoyed grunt escaped the Devil¡¯s lips, but he couldn¡¯t retaliate properly as King Phillip appeared beside him.A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. King Phillip¡¯s eyes were wild and bloodshot, darkness swirling around him. His sword arm had been replaced by darkness. Combining [Crown of Darkness] with [Armor of the Everlasting Night] and his Augmentation to control darkness. His sword arm was now, quite literally, a sword made of darkness, attached to a stump, which was also made of darkness. The bladed arm shot forward and pierced through another scale, which the Beast King had damaged earlier. It pierced through the Devil, who retaliated with a strike. The king briefly dismissed the bladed arm while jumping back to evade the strike. In the meantime, Purgatory Fire, comprised of as much as possible, surged out of the Beast King¡¯s claws straight into the Devil. The powerhouses stalled time. It might only last a few seconds, but that was enough. Percy took a deep breath and triggered [Consume]. Only devour the demon corpses, Artifacts, and armaments. Don¡¯t strip the human bodies and Beastmen naked, though. And do not, under any circumstances, devour the human and Beastman corpses!! The eerie sphere overhead burst apart and turned into countless streams that shot in all directions. Some dove straight to the ground, where they crashed heavily into piles of Lesser Demons, while other streams reached top speed in no time to reach the other side of the battlefield. No one had the time to clear the battlefield. If anything, the united forces hoped to shape the battlefield, making it even harder for the demonic forces to pass by. The Abomination destroyed their efforts of the last few days, but not without any returns. [Goods worth 712.236 Prosperity have been consumed.] [Goods worth 236.724.247 Prosperity have been consumed.] [Goods worth 3.163.835 Prosperity have been consumed.] [Goods worth 36.735.392 Prosperity have been consumed.] [Goods worth 25,215 Prosperity have been consumed.] [Goods worth 934,754 Prosperity have been consumed.] ¡­ [Your Tier increased by one rank.] [Your Tier advanced to Ascended. Additional Monster Card Slot has been unlocked.] [Your understanding of the Coin of Prosperity and its powers increased. Your existing Gifted affinities have improved.] [Cataclysmic Dragon bloodline has been strengthened.] Finally, Percy¡¯s Tier increased to Ascended but was not yet done. If anything, he was just getting started with. There were still half a dozen Demon Lords, hundreds of Greater Demons, and small mountains of Lesser and Elite Demons to devour. As pure mana flooded his body, filling it to the brim, he tried controlling the efficiency of mana shaping. He didn¡¯t have several days to adjust to the changes of mana shaping or the improvements of various Augmentations. Fortunately, that wouldn¡¯t be necessary. He had an ace up his sleeve. [Goods worth 246.236.935 Prosperity have been consumed.] [Goods worth 182,991,173 Prosperity have been consumed.] ¡­ ¡­ Percy stopped reading the notifications popping up in the corner of his view. Instead, he used [Consume] on Prosperity while simultaneously allowing the Abomination to keep consuming the demon corpses, ownerless Artifacts, and Armaments. The Devil was still distracted, but it tried taking the Abomination back by clutching onto one of the Abomination streams that had been about to consume a Demon Lord near the Devil. The Devil appeared next to the stream and grasped it tightly. His darkness gushed forward in an attempt to consume the Abomination. Percy felt the tremendous pulling force instantaneously. His eyes narrowed, but he didn¡¯t make a move. Percy merely spoke to the Abomination in a whisper. ¡°Do you want to return to the Devil and become a fragment of that thing, OR do you want to consume it¡­or control it?!¡± His voice rumbled at the end, stirring the Abomination. It writhed in what Percy presumed to be excitement. At least, he hoped that it was excitement. ¡°If you want to consume that bastard, you must fight him. Retaliate. Resist his attempts to corrupt you. To take you back. To enslave you. Fight back and keep consuming the demonic forces. Try your utmost, as if your life depends on it. Because that is exactly what is going on here. Either we are going to win, or the Devil will kill me and consume you. It¡¯s now or never!¡± The Abomination writhed again, but this time, something was different. This time, the Abomination responded properly to Percy¡¯s words. It forwarded its feelings to Percy. It was hungry. It was starving since Percy woke up from metamorphosing. It wanted more. It wanted¡­the Devil. ¡°That¡¯s what I wanted to hear. Go on. Keep consuming the demonic forces. Take as much as you can!¡± Dozens of notifications of goods that had been consumed popped up, and it was only now Percy realized how much his Prosperity had increased. His balance crossed five billion¡­and it was still increasing. The mountains of demon carcasses had yet to be fully digested. There was a lot left to be consumed on the battlefield. [Your Tier increased by one rank.] A second rank-up was a good start, but it was merely that. The start of Percy¡¯s counter. The start of his fight back. It was time to enhance his Monster Cards and to bind with another. B3 Chapter 63 - Surge of Power Percy accessed his spatial ring and retrieved a Monster Card. ¡°You better be exactly what I¡¯m looking for!¡± Percy grumbled, fusing with the Card that had manifested in his hand while the Abomination continued consuming more and more demon carcasses. The binding process was smooth. The Monster Card¡¯s compatibility with Percy was higher than he¡¯d hoped. It took merely seconds before he was done. [Black Wyvern Card has been bound.] [All Card Slots have been occupied.] Percy ignored the notifications and looked back to study the battlefield. The common soldiers didn¡¯t know what was happening, but they were excited at the arrival of someone whose mere presence enraged the Devil. Simultaneously, bits of the fear instilled in their hearts was replaced by courage once they noted that their king regained his senses. King Phillip fought more fiercely than before, but that was not all. Their king evaded the Devil¡¯s attack by timing his strikes with the Beast King. The Beast King and King Phillip attacked and retreated together. It felt like they were the same as they inflicted numerous gashes, albeit small ones, all over the Devil¡¯s body. They were not only stalling time but took advantage of the Devil¡¯s fury to injure him. Maybe. Just maybe the mortal realm wasn¡¯t lost just yet. The pack of Moonlight Wolves emerged from the battlefield and pursued the demons who¡¯d breached through the final line of defense. At the same time, Percy checked his newest Monster Card, preparing it for the fight that lay ahead. [Black Wyvern] [Potential: Guardian????] [Augmentation] [Greater Agility Boost???] [Dragonic Wrath????] [Transformation: Wings?????] [Wyvernflame???] [Greater Agility Boost] was stronger than Blue¡¯s Agility Boost. Yet, despite two Boost Augmentations of the same type not overlapping, Percy invested in the Glacial Roc¡¯s Agility, pushing it to great heights. But that was not all. Percy did a lot more than that. [5,136,892,971 Prosperity has been consumed.] [Glacial Roc¡¯s Potential has been upgraded to [Guardian?????]. [Gnoll Warlord¡¯s Potential has been upgraded to [Guardian?????]. [Black Wyvern¡¯s Potential has been upgraded to [Guardian?????]. [Glacial Roc¡¯s Augmentation[Advanced Agility Boost] has been upgraded to [Greater Agility Boost???] [Black Wyvern¡¯s Augmentation [Greater Agility Boost???] has been upgraded to [Greater Agility Boost?????]. [Black Wyvern¡¯s locked Augmentation [Wyvernflame???] has been unsealed.] [Black Wyvern¡¯s Augmentation [Wyvernflame???] has been upgraded to [Dragonbreath?]. [Black Wyvern¡¯s Augmentation [Dragonic Wrath????] has been upgraded to [Dragonic Wrath?????]. [Your Tier increased by one rank.] ¡­ ¡­ [Your Tier increased by one rank.] Percy upgraded as much as possible, enhancing almost all Augmentations drastically, but he lost himself in the fight underneath, forcing him to ignore the dozens of notifications appearing in the corner of his view. Simultaneously, watching countless men and women struggling in the fight against the demonic forces while enduring the pain of adapting to the new and upgraded Augmentations was not easy. Percy wasn¡¯t surprised when the rank-ups nearly took him out. He expected to rank slightly, especially after his Gifted affinities increased once he reached the Ascended Tier.Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions. Still, he overcame the floods of mana and the alterations the Augmentations instilled in his body. But that was not owed to his toughness or because Percy was special. No. He was painfully aware that all those rank-ups and Augmentation enhancements should have killed him. But they did not do that thanks to the ace Old King had given him. For a few minutes, maybe a little longer, his body rapidly adapted to its changes. It would be several times faster than the norm, all thanks to him surpassing his limit¡ªquite literally. The drop of blood he¡¯d obtained from the Old King made all of it possible. It changed everything, including his connection to Dragon Fang. [Dragon Fang(Syreablade) ¨C Perfect/Soulbound(Percy Kain) ¨C 2.341,433,229 Prosperity.] [Dragon Might], [Absolute Slash], [Vampiric Slash] [Growth?????],[Super Sensory???], [Limit Break?????], [Cataclysmic Dragon ?????] Maybe not everything had been unlocked, but [Dragonblood] evolved, while [Limit Break] was unsealed alongside the runic enchantment [Vampiric Slash]. However, neither unsealing the Augmentation and runic enchantment nor the evolution of [Dragonblood] had been initiated via Prosperity. It was all owed to the Cataclysmic Dragon¡¯s blood, merging neatly with Percy. It overwhelmed Percy for a moment, attached to the awakened Azure Dragon¡¯s blood coursing through his veins, and only became part of him without retaliation after sensing Dragon Fang. The blood drop and Dragon had once been part of the same mighty creature, and finally they had reunited in the body of a mere human. If Percy was to be honest, he had no idea how he¡¯d survived this. He could have sworn death was knocking on his doors, yet the reaper left him without cutting the final thread connecting him to the mortal realm. Percy would have been happy to know how he survived because the last thing he remembered was unbearable pain. The agony had been endless, occupying every inch of his body. But no matter what had happened, Percy was alive and stronger than ever. The Cataclysmic Dragon¡¯s blood was running through his veins, fueling Percy with power. [Limit Break] was also active and unleashed to the fullest, granting him a few minutes to safely surpass his limit until everything came crashing down. A few minutes is all I need. It is¡­all I have! He summoned the Black Wyvern mid-air with a mental command. His connection to the creature wasn¡¯t as firm as the bond with Blue and Hyean, but that mattered little. The Black Wyvern looked like a miniature version of the dragon halos Percy and his father had manifested when they tested if royal blood was running through his veins. However, the Black Wyvern was not as massive as the dragon halos. It may be a mythical, powerful creature with mighty leathery wings and an appearance akin to a dragon, but it was smaller and had only two legs. It screeched at the top of its lungs when Percy summoned it and flapped its mighty things. Its lizard-like head flicked to the ground, death, and destruction flickering in its eyes. ¡°Pursue and kill the demons who¡¯ve breached our defenses. Don¡¯t burn anyone from the united forces, and come back to burn the demonic forces alive when you¡¯re done,¡± Percy ordered verbally while commanding Blue mentally. The Glacial Roc descended to the ground near the defense lines, whereas the Black Wyvern transformed into a black flash in the air. He heard the monster¡¯s roar again and saw grand flames burning Demons and earth alike. The Black Wyvern went on a killing spree, eliminating those who¡¯d bypassed the defense lines in no time. Simultaneously, the Abomination went wild as well. Since Percy unraveled the possibility of consuming the Devil, of controlling the Devil, the Abomination was out of control. It didn¡¯t go against Percy¡¯s order, but it never fully returned to Percy, knowing that more demon corpses were being prepared by the second. Every demon dying on the battlefield was being consumed within seconds. They struck the ground, the life in their eyes dimming slowly, and disappeared moments later. The Prosperity reaching Percy accumulated, but he didn¡¯t have a swift way to spend as much Prosperity as possible because every Augmentation-upgrade cost exponentially more. That was suitable when he had enough Prosperity to increase several Augmentations, but it wasn¡¯t helpful now that he had tens of millions of Prosperity left to use. He didn¡¯t wish to waste it either, but his current top priority was to increase his rank further. He had to use [Limit Break] as long as it was active. Investing all Prosperity the moment he received it was the easiest way. After all, he couldn¡¯t constantly check his balance, or the cost to upgrade his Augmentations. Not now that he¡¯d properly entered the battlefield. Percy emerged before a Greater Demon with Dragon Fang rippling in his hands. He cleaved through the Greater Demon, killing the creature on the spot. He tried using [Consume] on the Greater Demon, but there was no time to think about it. First, his Abomination was already on the way. It consumed the Greater Demon¡¯s corpse faster than he could command it. Second, more Greater Demons were already coming for him, a Demon Lord leading their group. He had no time to think about the most cost-efficient way to rank up and increase his strength. Thus, he chose the simplest path. His Prosperity was invested in the Capture Card. [63.236.682 Prosperity has been consumed.] [Mythical Card¡¯s capture rate increased.] Percy¡¯s expression dimmed. He didn¡¯t have to waste any time checking how many Prosperity points he would have to accumulate to invest in the Capture Card, but it wasn¡¯t like the mythical card improved his strength. It was frustrating, but the simplest strategy he could think of. He had to progress rapidly. The Glacial Roc screeched in agreement and shot back into the air. Blue seemed to expand as it ascended into the air, but Percy no longer inspected the Glacial Roc. He stayed focused on the Greater Demons, until a barrage of icy feathers poured from the sky like daggers. The Greater Demons died on the spot, whereas the Demon Lord blocked most attacks. The Demon Lord looked to the sky, which was a grave mistake. Percy turned into a flash, the Syreblade flickering in the morning sun''s light as it cut through the Demon Lord¡¯s chest, triggering [Vampiric Slash], draining the Demon Lord¡¯s life rapidly. B3 Chapter 64 - Head-on A glacier-blue lance pierced the Demon Lord before Percy could deal the finishing blow. It wasn¡¯t even like Percy was desperately struggling against the Demon Lord, yet a rider of the united forces considered it necessary to place the knight in shining armor for him. Percy glanced at the rider, who sat atop what looked like a frozen horse. The horse was blueish-white with an icicle as its mane. That was already unique and attracted Percy¡¯s attention, just like the trail of freezing mist it left in its wake. Paul Reeze! He recognized the Duke, who smiled faintly at him. Paul Reeze was also one of the kingdom¡¯s Pillars. He was one of the strongest, to be precise. Nonetheless, Paul didn¡¯t possess enough strength to fight the Devil alongside King Phillip and the Beast King. His power was better used against the demonic forces. Slaying Greater Demons was no problem, and even Demon Lords struggled to keep up with him when he went all out. ¡°I¡¯m happy you decided to join the fight, Your Excellency,¡± The Duke mentioned, his voice filled with respect. It was the first time Paul Reeze called him ¡®Your Excellency¡¯. That was far from the norm and would have confused Percy if he didn¡¯t understand what was happening. Do you think you¡¯re going to die today? Is that what the final formalities are for? Percy clicked his tongue and turned away. He accessed his bond with Blue and checked the battlefield through the Glacial Roc¡¯s eyes. The removal of the demon corpse piles and the masses of demons spread across the battlefield ¨C they¡¯d slowed the Demons, forcing them to be more careful not to slip and fall ¨C changed a lot. The demonic forces, albeit fewer, charged the defense lines in one compressed mass like they were one entity. The Devil¡¯s endless hunger stirred them. It overshadowed their instincts and transformed the demonic forces into mindless slaughterers. That wasn¡¯t great for those who couldn¡¯t defend against mindless creatures, but the Glacial Roc showed the Glacia Knight Order and the Gaia Knights how it was done. Blue used [Cryomancy] at its fullest to conjure massive walls all over the battlefield instantly. The walls were close to ten meters tall and several meters wide. Even if some Lesser Demons and Elite Demons were to attack the walls, they wouldn¡¯t crumble. Not even a Greater Demon¡¯s attack would be enough to destroy the ice walls that easily. Many demons tried climbing the walls, but they found their bodies impaled by massive stakes jutting from the ice walls. The demonic creatures were impaled, the freezing properties of [Cryomancy]¡¯s power seeping into their bodies, killing them slowly. The Glacia Knights, Gaia Knights, and Mythics were already exhausted; their mana drained more than once, but they nonetheless retrieved a set of Mana Potions from their storage devices. The cork sealing the potions was smoothly removed, and the potion content emptied at once, filling the Knights with enough mana to create lesser versions of Blue¡¯s spiked walls. The Knights would have done that much earlier, blocking the demonic hordes and forcing them to split up to seek other paths to pounce the united forces, but their entire mana reservoir was drained from creating a large, durable, spiked wall using mana. Their mana wasn¡¯t as pure as Percy''s, forcing them to use much more to produce the same results. It was simply not worth it. Or had been. Now, however, the tides were changing. The Glacial Roc¡¯s ice feathers killed hundreds of Demons in a good minute, while the Black Wyvern was having the time of its life by unleashing [Dragon Wrath], inducing fear in the demonic creatures¡¯ hearts, and [Dragonbreath], burning all but Demon Lords in their wake. Even the Gnoll Warlord, its potential to reach the Peak of the Guardian Tier, contributed to the changes on the battlefield. Wielding a pair of massive broadswords while using [Berserk] and [Master of the Blade]. He relied on [Greater Strength Boost] to overwhelm his enemies, even though that was hardly necessary with its high Potential. He cleaved through the masses of Elite Demons and Greater Demons like they were no more than Lesser Demons. He didn¡¯t struggle fighting Lesser Demons anymore. That time had passed a long time ago. Hyena was strong now. Stronger than ever. Bloodier than ever.The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. He wreaked havoc, each strike cleaving multiple enemies apart. Every death nurtured [Berserk], pushing the Gnoll Warlord forward, while [Master of the Blade] assured that the Gnoll Warlord would remain level-headed enough to use the knowledge and understanding of the blade to his advantage. Percy¡¯s summoned Monsters weren¡¯t the only ones contributing to a subtle change in the battle¡¯s tides. The Knight Orders¡¯ Summons were strong enough to aid and protect common soldiers once the massive walls slowed the demonic forces, whereas the Knight Captains and Leaders of the Knight Orders had even better Monster Cards. Everyone was exhausted, but the crown prince¡¯s appearance and how King Phillip regained enough vigor to fight the Devil head-on were enough to lightly push the united forces. Percy saw everything through Blue¡¯s eyes and smiled. [Your Tier increased by one rank.] The Abomination was still busy consuming demon carcasses, whereas Percy was absentmindedly investing all Prosperity into the Capture Card to accelerate his Tier¡¯s progress. He progressed quickly, and the last rank-up was what Percy had been waiting for. He¡¯d eliminated the Demon Lords spread across the battlefield with the Pillars and Apex¡¯s help, earning him enough to rank up. Thus, now that the enemies second only to the Devil had been eliminated, Percy turned to the grand prize. The enemy they had to defeat to protect the two nations. The mortal realm. He stared straight at the Devil, who had wrestled the Beast King to the ground while simultaneously fending off King Phillip with his scales tail. The Devil looked back at Percy, excitement and fury mixing in its crimson-glowing eyes as it disappeared from the spot. Percy perceived the essence coursing through the Devil¡¯s body via [Roc Eyes] before he disappeared. He had enough time to use [Dragon Wrath], [Berserk], [Master of the Blade], and to flex his muscles, pure mana coursing through his body. The Devil appeared behind Percy, his claws mantled in blades of darkness. His arms shot forward, ready to kill Percy on the spot, but the crown prince was prepared. His body twisted as Dragon Fang jumped into action. He approached the Devil instead of pulling away, which was barely enough to evade the first strike, but it wasn¡¯t enough. Percy was forced to lean toward one blade, which threatened to reap his life at any moment, only for the Syreablade to appear in time. It collided with one of the darkness blades, altering its trajectory slightly. The first blade missed Percy entirely, whereas the other darkness blade scraped across the Dragonscale Armor. I can manage that much! Percy shouted inwardly while the Devil pulled his arms back. Now that the Devil¡¯s ¡®surprise attack¡¯ failed, he didn¡¯t disappear again to attack others. His focus remained on Percy and the Abomination gushing out of him. It looked more at the Abomination and even tried using his powers to access the Abomination and reclaim it. However, despite the Devil¡¯s tremendous power, the Abomination could resist. Maybe the Abomination was strong enough to block the Devil¡¯s influence entirely, or the Devil was too busy dealing with so many enemies simultaneously. The Devil never stopped attacking Percy while trying to overwhelm the Abomination and force it back to where it belonged, but the deadly attacks never hit the mark. Percy¡¯s enemy was fast, precise, and deadly, but Percy gained enough strength through his Tier, Augmentations, and the Cataclysmic Dragon¡¯s blood to put on a fight with the Devil. His skin rippled, and black scales formed underneath, protecting Percy when the Devil managed to pierce through the Draconscale Armor. The Dragonscale Armor wasn¡¯t shattered, but the tip of the Devil¡¯s blade sunk into Percy¡¯s flesh. Or it should have. A black scale formed underneath his skin where the Devil¡¯s blade struck, blocking its path to his heart. Percy¡¯s skin was pierced cleanly, but that was all the damage the Devil could inflict in a good minute against Percy. Too much mana is leaving my body. Maintaining half a dozen Augmentations at full power is already a burden, but doing so while clashing with the Devil? Percy was also forced to infuse mana into Dragon Fang, increasing its sharpness and durability while circulating mana through his body, fortifying and enhancing it. Simultaneously, Percy had yet to comprehend everything about his new bloodline abilities. His skin rippled in anticipation as the fight with the Devil continued, while the white in his eyes was slowly replaced by the darkness of his Cataclysmic bloodline. The Devil¡¯s eyes narrowed, fury flickering in his eyes. He stopped trying to reclaim the Abomination for a moment and focused solely on Percy, smashing him harder and harder. But while his attacks hit the mark, they had yet to injure Percy lethally. Percy was injured, and the Dragonscale Armor was damaged, loosely hanging onto him, but the Devil¡¯s obsession over Percy was exactly what the Beast King and King Phillip needed to attack. B3 Chapter 65 - Doomed The Beast King and King Phillip struck the Devil when he was distracted. King Phillip¡¯s blade whipped through the air with a thunderous sound. His attack hit the mark, but only barely, cutting cleanly through the Devil¡¯s armpit, where no scale protected him. A fountain of black blood gushed out, and the Devil roared in anger and pain, but the surprise attack had yet to conclude. The Beast King pounced on the Devil¡¯s back and twisted the Devil¡¯s arms, resulting in another fountain of blood gushing in all directions before the Devil¡¯s arm gave in. The inflicted gash was deep enough to weaken the Devil¡¯s arm but not enough to sever the arm. However, the Beast King solved that problem. He ripped out the Devil¡¯s arm in a moment of fury. ¡°Yes!¡± King Phillip roared. The Devil was not yet dead, but losing an arm would permanently lower his prowess. Their chances of victory would have skyrocketed instantaneously if it hadn¡¯t been for the Devil smiling. He smiled through the pain, his devious expression instilling fear in their hearts. Percy pulled back instinctively while King Phillip prepared to block a counterattack. But the two humans weren¡¯t the Devil¡¯s target. The Devil¡¯s power surged, and Percy could barely tell that some of the Devil¡¯s Essence had been consumed. It was so sudden and illogical that Percy couldn¡¯t react in time. Why would the Devil sacrifice his Demonic Essence after losing his arm? Finally, he reacted, his head flicking to the Devil¡¯s lost arm. The Beast King held it¡­or he had been holding it. It disappeared, transforming into a massive hole that tore through the fabric of space. The air around the hole expanded, and it took Percy a moment to realize where the Devil¡¯s Essence had gone. It was in the hole that expanded rapidly in the Beast King¡¯s claws, shredding his claw and arm before he could react. The black hole appeared, expanded, and disappeared in less than a second, but it didn¡¯t require more time to stir chaos and cause tremendous damage. From one moment to the next, the Beast King lost his arm. Purgatory Fire and hot blood gushed out of the Beast King¡¯s remains of an arm, but even his Ancient Power had been damaged through the black hole. What in the Seven Hells did he just d¨C... Percy couldn¡¯t even finish the thought in his mind when the Devil¡¯s tail smashed into him, hurling him through the air. His Dragonscale Armor was already lost, but the darkness tendrils wreathing the Devil¡¯s tail transformed into bladed whips and lashed out at Percy, severing the last strands keeping the armor together. Percy¡¯s mana surged forward, enveloping the Dragonscale Armor, hoping to repair it while it sustained damage, but it was to no avail. The Dragonscale Armor clashed with the ground while he was sent flying. The bladed whips struck Percy, inflicting small cuts all over his body. He somersaulted mid-air and conjured the Cataclysmic scales all over his body, ready to face the Devil¡¯s follow-up attack. But there was nothing like that. The Devil cackled heinously, his laughter resounding throughout the war zone. He raised the remains of his arm stump into the air and stared straight at Percy with a dead-pan expression as his Essence surged toward the stump, which started regrowing. It wasn¡¯t an instantaneous process, but the Devil¡¯s arm was regrowing at a visible pace. It was even faster than King Phillip¡¯s [Monster Regeneration]. Fuck!If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. He wasn¡¯t the only one cursing inwardly. The Beast King growled deeply, his eyes trained on the Devil, while King Phillip heaved heavily. The King was exhausted. His mana was already drained, forcing him to subside the lack of mana with his lifeforce and Essence. That allowed him to summon more power but also pushed him to the brink of death. The Beast King was still up for a fight, but he was far from peak condition with a missing arm, whereas King Phillip was on the verge of death. That would have been bad if not for one particular fact: The Devil was also growing weaker. The Devil had consumed too much Essence to take the Beast King¡¯s arm, and he was forced to sacrifice a lot of Essence to regrow his arm. It wasn¡¯t visible to most because it looked like the Devil was still at his peak, smiling confidently at his adversaries, but Percy was highly sensitive to the changes around him. The Cataclysmic Dragon¡¯s blood augmented his eyes, increasing their sensitivity to all types of energy, whereas [Roc Eyes] improved all aspects of his vision. Percy witnessed the Devil¡¯s strength drop by a noth. The only problem was that the Devil had weakened his enemies more by sacrificing some of his Essence than he lost through the sacrifice. He appeared behind the Beast King when the Beast King¡¯s eyes trailed to the Devil¡¯s regrowing arm stump. All it took was a quarter of a second. The Beast King burst forward, evading the Devil¡¯s first attack. The claws coated in darkness hit empty air, but only once. The Devil teleported before the Beast King, his other claw, mantled in a darkness blade, thrusting forward with shocking speed. Even if the Beast King had been at full power, it would have been hard to evade the incoming attack, but it was impossible to escape while dashing straight into the blade. The only thing the Beast King could do was to unleash his Purgatory Fire. He unraveled the full potential of the Purgatory Fire, wreathing his arm in it, burning his fur, skin, and flesh in the process. Not even his natural fire resistance was strong enough to escape the intensity of Purgatory FIre¡¯s full power. His remaining arm burned brightly as the black flames shot forward to clash with the darkness blade that had grown out of the Devil¡¯s regenerating arm stump. Their Ancient Powers collided and clashed violently until they exploded in an attempt to destroy each other. Dirt was stirred up and hurled in all directions, blocking Percy¡¯s direct view of the situation. He could only detect some things. The Devil¡¯s Essence surged forward and repelled the Beast King¡¯s Purgatory Fire, uncaring how much Essence would be destroyed. It took a few seconds for the whirlwind of dust, wet soil, and pebbles to settle, but the sight unfolding before Percy and King Phillip was terrifying, to say the least. A two-meter-long blade had pierced the Beast King¡¯s chest neatly. The Devil smirked at the terror filling the air while the Beast King clutched desperately onto the darkness blade. ¡°I¡¯ve endured the sight of you long enough, lousy animal,¡± The Devil snarled, throwing the Beast King to the side. Unable to move, the Beast King smashed into the ground and rolled over, the hole in his chest visible to everyone. Blood spurted from the wound, drenching the ground in the Beast King¡¯s blood. He was still breathing, albeit barely, but he wouldn¡¯t be of any help against the Devil anymore. The Devil returned his attention to Percy, a smile creeping up on his hideous face. He grimaced at Percy and salivated the emotional turmoil on the crown prince¡¯s face for a moment. Then he turned to King Phillip and teleported next to him. Instead of reacting to the attack, King Phillip used [Ghost Step] to step through the incoming attacks with little effort. The Devil snickered, but there was no annoyance in his grimace. On the contrary, he seemed to enjoy the situation thoroughly as he teleported to Percy, who responded promptly as well. Or he would have if his body didn¡¯t stop listening to his commands. Percy tried evading the incoming attack, a claw sweep aimed at his chest, but he could only watch as a red notification popped up before him. [The effect of Limit Break has worn off.] The aftermath of going above and beyond, surpassing his limit numerous times in the last few minutes, came crashing down upon him. Fuck.