Westland Continent – Crimson Wastes

  “Have you found the location yet? We need to deal with this fast!” the demon Warchief roared.

  “My lord, our spies across Sacra are working day and night, but there’s still no sign of the Nameless. No one knows where he accessed the trial from. It could be some hidden location we’re unaware of. Even the human kingdoms are losing their minds trying to figure it out,” the old advisor said solemnly.

  “This is driving me insane. Increase the training regime for all our younglings. We need to prepare strong warriors for the Hundred-Year Tournament next year!”

  ***

  Beastworld Jungle

  Lupus sat before a magma-like rock pulsing with red mana. To his left stood a translucent, razor-sharp tree that radiated powerful lightning energy, sparks dancing across its crystalline leaves.

  He was absorbing both the red and silver-blue mana into his body and core. These two natural treasures, discovered during his years in the jungle, had helped him evolve his core into a Thunderfire Core and grow stronger and faster than the other beasts.

  He smiled.

  Just a few days ago, he broke into Tier 9. Now, he needed to completely absorb these two treasures to break the final shackles and ascend into a Divine Beast.

  He closed his eyes, his voice a whisper in the wind.

  “I will evolve!”

  He wanted to become human more than anything; for him, that was a form that represented the ultimate power. Once he did, he would rule this land; he would do as he pleased.

  ***

  Outside the Arcanum, Umbra and Scry were already enjoying the morning. Scry floated in lazy circles around the building, basking in the fresh air, while Umbra soared above him, her sharp eyes scanning the surroundings protectively.

  “Morning, you two!” Kai called out with a grin. “Looks like you’re enjoying your newfound freedom, Scry.”

  Scry zipped down to Kai’s side, spinning around him excitedly. Umbra followed, gliding down with quiet grace.

  “I really missed this,” Scry said, his voice light. “I was stuck inside the Arcanum for hundreds of years. The air feels incredible!”

  “He’s such a child,” Umbra smirked.

  Kai leaned closer, whispering, “He’s handling it surprisingly well, though.”

  Umbra’s expression softened. “He’s pushing it down. Hiding the pain behind that smile. I understand him.”

  Kai nodded, his face growing serious. “Yeah… I know what you mean. This time, I won’t let him suffer. We have to be strong enough not to lose anyone.”

  Umbra growled, “You don’t need to tell me twice.”

  Kai turned to her with purpose. “Then let’s train. You need to adapt to your new skills before we face the wolf. And… I have an idea. I’ll need your help.”

  “I’m listening,” she said, intrigued.

  “Can you summon lightning and hit me with it?”

  Umbra froze. “Are you insane? That attack nearly killed the beetle whose body was made of pure Arg ore. You’ll die!”

  Kai smiled calmly. “Don’t worry. I’ll deflect most of it with my sword. I just want to guide a little of it into my Thunder Seed to see if I can absorb lightning from spells. After that, I’ll go find natural lightning. Trust me.”

  Umbra growled. “Fine. But I’ll summon the weakest bolt I can. If you get hurt, it’s on you.”

  Scry sighed, floating back toward the Arcanum. He had warned Kai about this last night, but once Kai made up his mind, there was no stopping him.

  Kai drew his sword and took a deep breath. His core spun, and his magic circle shimmered behind him.

  Umbra rose into the sky and began the Thunderhead Dance. Dark clouds gathered, blotting out the sun. Lightning crackled across the sky, and the air grew heavy with pressure. She focused, forming the thinnest lightning spear she could control, and willed it toward Kai.

  Thunder roared.

  The bolt shot down.

  Kai slashed upward with a mana-enhanced strike, weakening the lightning just enough before it struck him. He screamed as it coursed through his body. His crescent moon tattoo flared, reinforcing his body, keeping it from shattering. His soul screamed at him to run, but he stood firm.

  The lightning burned through his channels and muscles until the Thunder Seed awakened. Like a man dying of thirst, it devoured the lightning mana, absorbing every spark that touched Kai’s body.

  Seeing this, Kai deactivated his tattoo and took the full force of the attack.

  The seed drank it all.

  Veins of lightning sprouted from the seed, connecting it to Kai’s core. The silver serpent opened its eyes, watching silently, allowing the transformation to unfold.

  The seed grew into a Thunder Sapling, rooted in Kai’s core. His mana shifted. The moonlight mana within him brightened, now laced with bolts of electricity. His body underwent a baptism of lightning.

  “Umbra!” Kai shouted. “More! Stronger! I need more!”

  He threw his sword aside.

  “You crazy bastard!” Scry yelled, horrified.

  Umbra hesitated, then smiled. She felt his confidence. She summoned her full power.

  Dark lightning struck.

  Thunder roared like a dragon.

  Kai screamed as his body cracked, his skin blackened. But inside, the sapling absorbed everything. His muscles adapted. His poisonous blood evolved again, now crackling with lightning. Even his cells began to hum with electric energy.

  His water mana acted as a conductor, enhancing the fusion.

  The silver serpent swallowed the Soul Sword from Kai’s inner world and coiled around the sapling, basking in the storm.

  Kai’s skin regenerated. His body healed. He had adapted.

  He opened his eyes. Lightning crackled within.

  “I feel amazing,” he whispered.

  He leapt into the air, lightning trailing behind him, and appeared beside Umbra in an instant.

  She hovered, stunned.

  Kai landed effortlessly. He felt reborn, stronger than when he first became a Knight.

  “Congratulations, Kai,” Scry said, ecstatic. “You’ve reached the first level of the Thunder Seed, the Thunder Sapling. Your body is now a Thunder Body, or more accurately, a Thunder Venom Body. Your water and lightning mana will now work in perfect sync.”

  Umbra floated down, pride glowing in her eyes.

  “Kai, when do you think we can fight the wolf?” she asked eagerly.

  Kai turned. “Let me adapt to the lightning and learn a few spells. I’ll be ready in two weeks.”

  “Okay. I’ll go train with the beetle. I feel like he can help me grow. I know where to find him.

  I’ll be back in two weeks then. Wait for me.”

  She rose into the sky and flew off.

  Kai watched her go, his heart heavy. He felt her thoughts through their bond, her pride, her determination, and her fear of falling behind.

  His strength was growing fast. Too fast.

  And that speed… was a curse to Umbra.

  They barely returned, but she was already gone.

  He only hoped she would be safe.

  Kai sat cross-legged in quiet meditation, his breath steady, his mind focused.

  He inspected his body from within.

  His pure light core now crackled with lightning as it spun, and atop it, a silver-blue sapling had begun to grow. Coiled around the sapling was the silver serpent, sleeping peacefully, lightning passing through her scales like gentle waves.

  Kai shifted his attention to his inner world.

  The small silver pond was calm, its surface undisturbed. Above it, his Soul Sword floated, still incomplete, waiting to mature. Nearby, the crystalline orb spun slowly, pulsing with quiet energy. He could feel the sword wasn’t ready yet, but the inner world would help it grow faster.

  Returning his focus to his core region, Kai examined his Uroboros magic circle. It pulsed with deep water mana, enhanced by poison. The circle shone with mystical golden light.

  Satisfied that his body was stable, Kai retrieved the centipede core. He would use it to strengthen his poison mana and blood further. Once that was done, it would be time to begin learning spells.

  As he absorbed the mana, his magic circle materialized behind him, spinning with intensity. The twin serpents danced faster, and glowing glyphs shimmered across the circle’s surface.

  Scry floated nearby, watching silently.

  The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  Then something unexpected happened.

  A stream of knowledge surged into Kai’s mind, an instinctive understanding of a spell: Poison Jet. It reminded him of the centipede general’s geyser-like venom attack. Somehow, his magic circle had extrapolated the beast’s ability and converted it into a spell tailored to Kai’s affinity and level.

  When the absorption was complete, Kai stood and turned to Scry.

  “Scry, watch closely. I want your thoughts.”

  He focused on the newly learned spell. His circle appeared again, this time with specific glyphs glowing brightly on its surface. A water globe formed in Kai’s palm, and he launched a dark water jet toward a nearby tree.

  The water pierced the trunk effortlessly.

  Moments later, the tree began to wither. Its vitality drained in seconds, collapsing into decay.

  Scry’s eyes widened. “Damn, Kai… that’s a dangerous spell. It combines a basic water jet with poisonous mana, and the poison is potent. Your mana absorbed the Tier 8 venom from the general. What’s more impressive is the simplicity of the formula. Even a regular water jet takes time to cast, but yours is nearly instant. How did you learn this?”

  Kai blinked. “I didn’t realize it was that special. While I absorbed the core, my magic circle sent the information directly into my mind. It looks like it adapted one of the centipede’s abilities and created a spell that fits me.”

  Scry shook his head, still stunned. “I’ve never heard of anything like this. Never. A magic circle that extrapolates beast abilities and converts them into usable spells? That’s unheard of. It’s damn insane, what is even the logic behind it?!”

  Kai nodded thoughtfully. “I think it’s because the circle was formed from a fusion of my soul and the serpent’s. The more I learn about this world, the more I realize that the Lake Serpent I killed was a true genius of its race. It’s a shame it had to die, but it made that choice.”

  Scry floated closer, his tone more serious now. “It seems that by creating a circle tied to your soul, it can sense what you need and evolve accordingly. And that Uroboros technique you used… It’s affecting everything. It’s mysterious, but powerful. And it’s going to help you grow fast.”

  Kai nodded, but a weight settled in his chest. There was too much on his plate, too many skills, too many paths. He felt like he was getting lost in all this power.

  “Scry… do you think I have too many abilities? How am I supposed to train all of them?”

  Scry hovered thoughtfully. “Let’s break it down. Your inheritance from the Dawnbreaker includes three skills. Two of them, Soul Sword and Silver Eclipse Body, grow passively as you absorb mana and moonlight. You don’t need to train them directly. Third, Moonlit Dance, you’ll master over time. For now, just being able to summon one thread is enough until you reach Master Knight level.”

  He continued, “Your circle formation technique, Uroboros, you only use when you’re ready to advance and when you find a suitable beast or spirit. That leaves your sword skills and elemental spells. Focus on water and poison spells that complement your swordplay. And finally, the Thunder Seed. You can train that when you find good lightning sources.”

  Scry smiled. “It’s not as overwhelming as it seems. I’ll help with planning and magic. Once we leave the jungle, we’ll find you a swordmaster.”

  Kai exhaled, the tension in his chest easing. Scry’s words rang true. He just needed to focus, train his body, master his sword, and learn a few spells. Simple enough.

  “Thank you, Scry. You’re a good friend.”

  Scry landed beside him. “Next, you need to learn some water spells. I’ve got a few enhancements in mind too.”

  Kai pulled out the book The Six Elements and Their Uses. Scry waved his paw, and the book floated open to a specific page.

  “Here. Read this. It’s about water mana and how to use it properly. You’ve already used it to strengthen your body and weapon and even made a basic barrier before.”

  Kai read carefully.

  Water mana was easy to control but lacked explosive power. To make it effective, one had to build pressure and condense it properly. He realized how hard it should’ve been to learn the basic Water Jet spell, and yet he had learned it instinctively. Comparing the formulas, the difference was staggering.

  He read further.

  Water mana excelled in defense and healing. It had many sub-elements: poison, blood, ice, and mist. Strong water practitioners could wield it in versatile ways.

  Kai felt his style aligned best with defensive water shields and offensive poison attacks. Healing spells could be useful later.

  “I’ve finished. I’d like to learn Water Barrier and Flowing Current. For enhancements, I want to try Haste and Strengthen.”

  Scry nodded. “Water Barrier and Flowing Current should be easy. Flowing Current coats your weapon with water, letting your strikes carry water mana. But why use that when you have aura?”

  Kai smiled. “My aura is unstable and needs to stay hidden. A Flowing Current combined with lightning could be interesting. Water conducts electricity; it might amplify my attacks, like Kaila’s did in the trial.”

  “Oho, smart,” Scry said. “Haste and Strengthen are enhancement spells, but they require wind and earth mana. You might struggle with those.”

  Kai tested the water spells first. As expected, he learned them quickly.

  His Water Barrier now surrounded him like a blue turtle shell; sturdier and more flexible than the water membrane he used before.

  Flowing Current was even easier. It coated his sword instantly, enhancing his strikes with fluid power.

  Haste and Strengthen were harder.

  His wind affinity was only 30% of his water affinity, and earth was just 10%. Still, he managed to activate both spells, barely.

  Haste gave him short bursts of speed. Strengthen barely enhanced his body, but when focused on a single limb, for example, his sword arm, it made a noticeable difference.

  He tested it, swinging his sword with Strengthen active on his right arm. The impact was significantly stronger.

  “If I can improve my wind and earth affinities, these spells will become more useful,” Kai said.

  Scry chuckled. “I was expecting you to master them perfectly. At least the universe is fair.”

  Kai smiled. “I think this is enough. I don’t want to learn too many skills. Simplicity is key. That’s my philosophy.”

  “What’s next?” Scry asked.

  Kai’s eyes gleamed. “I remembered something from your memories, secret places hidden around the jungle.”

  Scry groaned. “I don’t like that look in your eyes. But I also can’t wait to see what you’re planning. It’s a curse, I tell you. I’m becoming crazy like you.”

  He laughed wildly.

  Kai grinned. “Follow me.”

  Lightning flickered around him as he dashed east. Scry flew after him at full speed.

  ***

  Kai and Scry arrived at an orchard nestled on the eastern edge of the jungle. The trees were heavy with apple-like fruits, their skin glowing faintly with mana.

  Kai plucked two and tossed one to Scry, who caught it midair and took a bite.

  “Mmmmmm!” Scry moaned. “This is so good.”

  Kai took a bite as well. “Tastes like Earth apples, except these restore mana. Perfect for healing after the lightning baptism.”

  Kai smiled as he watched Scry devour fruit after fruit, his belly starting to bulge.

  “This is addictive. Is this heaven?” Scry groaned, floating lazily between branches.

  Kai laughed. He’d discovered Scry’s weakness: food.

  Between bites, Scry narrowed his eyes. “Alright, what are we really doing here? I doubt we came to eat fruit.”

  Kai grinned. “Just wait.”

  Suddenly, a massive bird soared overhead, its feathers shimmering with pale blue light.

  Scry’s eyes widened. “A Thundersoul Sparrow! Oh no… I see.” He dove into a tree, hiding behind the leaves, only his eyes peeking out.

  Kai leapt into the air and struck at the bird, not to wound it, just enough to provoke it.

  The sparrow screeched, lightning crackling across its feathers. A massive ball of lightning formed above it and shot toward Kai.

  Kai gritted his teeth and activated his Water Barrier. The lightning weakened as it passed through the shield, but eventually shattered it and surged into his body.

  Pain stabbed through him, but it was manageable.

  His Thunder Sapling awakened, greedily absorbing the lightning until nothing remained.

  The bird, sensing no threat, turned and flew away.

  Kai landed and dusted off his clothes. “Not bad. But I need something stronger. Scry, come on, we’re going further.”

  Scry floated out of the tree, still shaken. “You’re insane,” he muttered, but followed reluctantly.

  After an hour, they arrived at a small mountain in the eastern region. Scry immediately knew why they were here.

  This was Thunderspark Peak, a place where lightning struck constantly. Lightning beasts, rare plants, and elemental spirits thrived here.

  “Kai… isn’t this enough for today?” Scry asked, worried. “You’ve already absorbed Umbra’s lightning and the sparrows. Maybe you’re pushing too hard.”

  Kai shook his head. “I need to be in peak condition to help Umbra fight the wolf. And who knows what resources we’ll have once we leave the jungle. I need to use my time wisely.”

  He sprinted toward the peak, dodging the beasts that roamed the area.

  At the summit, he encountered the ruler of the region: a Lightning-Mane Lion. The majestic silver-skinned beast stood tall, its electric-blue mane crackling with power.

  The lion growled. “Leave now or die.”

  “I came to train,” Kai said calmly. “Once I’m done, I’ll leave.”

  “I cannot allow that. Begone!” the lion roared, unleashing a beam of lightning.

  Kai didn’t dodge. He let the lightning hit him.

  His body absorbed it instantly. Not a scratch remained.

  The lion’s eyes widened. “What… how is this possible?”

  “I don’t want to fight,” Kai said. “Just show me the best place to be struck by lightning. I’d appreciate it.”

  Scry hovered nearby, stunned.

  “Are you a lightning spirit?” the lion asked. “No one willingly gets struck by lightning. Most just absorb ambient mana.”

  Kai smiled. “Show me. And watch. You might learn something.”

  “Fine, follow me,” the lion sighed, his pride stung just enough to make him reluctant.

  They climbed higher, ascending to the very summit of Thunderspark Peak. From here, lightning struck randomly across the landscape, painting the sky in flashes of silver and blue. At the center of the peak stood a radiant tree, glowing with pure silver light as it absorbed bolt after bolt.

  Kai’s eyes widened. “What is that?”

  “That,” the lion said, “is the Barak Pine Tree. They only grow where lightning mana is strongest. I’ve tried to approach it before, but I never succeeded. If you touch it and manage to absorb even a little of its mana, it’s like absorbing lightning for a month. The longer you endure, the greater the benefits. But I wouldn’t recommend it, it’s too dangerous.”

  “Kai, he’s right,” Scry pleaded. “Just absorb some of the ambient lightning and let’s go.”

  Kai shook his head. “How can I walk away from such an opportunity? I have to at least try.”

  The lion and Scry stayed behind as Kai stepped forward.

  At first, the lightning bolts were distant. But as he approached the tree, they began to strike him directly. The initial strikes were tolerable, even pleasant, but the closer he got, the more intense the pain became. His Thunder Sapling struggled to absorb the surging energy, and Kai’s body was forced to take in the rest.

  He pushed forward, step by step, until he was just a meter away.

  The lightning thickened, the pressure and mana density far beyond anything he’d experienced. He activated his Water Barrier, his crescent moon tattoo flared, and he cast Strengthen and Haste to move faster.

  His body surged with lightning. The Thunder Sapling began to grow rapidly. Even the silver serpent stirred, storing excess lightning in Kai’s inner world.

  Finally, Kai reached the tree and laid his hand on its trunk.

  Mana enveloped him instantly, roaring through his channels toward his core. He screamed. His body felt like it was going to burst. Even his soul trembled. The silver serpent hissed in pain, swallowing as much lightning as it could, but it wasn’t enough.

  Kai endured.

  He had to.

  This was a treasure beyond measure.

  Lightning coursed through him. The sapling grew taller, now resembling a young tree. Then, two crystalline branches sprouted, one on each side. From each branch, a bud formed, absorbing mana directly from the Barak Pine.

  Moments later, the buds bloomed.

  One became a crystalline thunder leaf, representing the Barak Pine’s lightning. The other became a dark oak thunder leaf, infused with Umbra’s lightning. Two distinct types of lightning, two paths of evolution.

  Two more buds formed, but they remained dormant. Kai sensed this was his current limit.

  He scanned his inner world. Lightning now danced across the pond, striking the Soul Sword and the orb. His soul ached, but he also felt it growing stronger, forged in lightning.

  His mana channels widened, now shimmering with a silver thunder-like glow. He didn’t know what the leaves truly meant, but he felt it: he was stronger. Strong enough to fight any Knight, even though he was barely a Knight himself.

  Kai condensed some of the Barak Pine’s mana into an orb and returned to Scry and the lion.

  Both were silent, stunned.

  Kai smiled; his clothes were destroyed. He hadn’t noticed.

  Scry screamed, “Kaiiiii! Put some clothes on, you lunatic!”

  Kai looked down, face reddening. He quickly pulled out a fresh set of martial clothes and dressed.

  “Sorry about that,” he muttered, scratching his head. Then he turned to the lion. “Here. Take this.”

  He handed the lion the condensed lightning orb.

  The lion stared, speechless. “Are you sure?”

  “Yeah. Thank you for showing me this place. It helped a lot.”

  The lion absorbed the orb on the spot.

  Moments later, he roared.

  His mane thickened, lightning surged through his body as it grew bigger, and a crystalline lightning horn sprouted from his forehead.

  “I owe you more than you know,” the lion said, bowing. “If you ever need my help, come find me.”

  Kai smiled. “Don’t worry about it. We’ll be leaving now. Thank you again.”

  He and Scry descended the mountain, lightning still crackling faintly around Kai’s body.

  They returned home.

  During the following days, Kai focused on refining his swordsmanship and mastering his spells. His lightning-infused body still needed time to adjust, and each day ended with a visit to the healing lake to mend the strain. He trained with discipline, pushing himself just enough to grow without tipping into recklessness.

  Some days, he and Scry wandered the jungle, collecting fruits and exploring its quieter corners. But Kai avoided any new dangerous places. He knew he had reached his limit, for now.

  Two weeks passed slowly, and then, finally, Umbra returned.

  She landed silently in front of the Arcanum, her presence subdued. Her mana was barely detectable, her aura tightly contained. Her posture was calm, her gaze unreadable.

  Kai stepped forward, intrigued. Something had changed.

  She looked… sharper. More focused. Stoic.

  “Welcome back,” Kai said softly. “You look different.”

  Umbra nodded once, her eyes meeting his. “I trained.”

  Kai could feel it; her power was deeper now, more refined. But she wasn’t radiating it as she had before. She was controlling it.

  He wanted to ask what she had gone through, what battles she had fought, what breakthroughs she had achieved. But he sensed she would speak when she was ready.

  So, he waited.