Kael felt it first.
Not danger.
Not killing intent.
Something worse.
Like something had its eyes on him.
Not just him—
All of them.
"…Stop."
The squad froze instantly.
Cyrus glanced around. "…What is it?"
Kael didn't answer right away. His eyes moved slowly across the area, scanning everything.
"…We're not moving right."
"That's helpful," one of them muttered under his breath.
Kael ignored him.
"…They've been pushing us."
Silence.
Cyrus frowned. "…You mean the fights?"
Kael nodded once.
"…Too frequent. Too well-timed."
A pause.
"…Like we're being herded."
That word settled badly.
No one liked how it sounded.
Then—
The ground burst.
No warning this time.
Something shot out from below—fast, violent, and already mid-attack.
"DOWN!"
Too late.
One of them got clipped and thrown sideways, armor cracking on impact.
Cyrus moved instantly, blade slashing into the thing's side.
It didn't stop.
Didn't even react.
It just kept going.
Straight for Kael.
"…Tch."
Kael stepped in.
His blade met it head-on—
And this time—
It didn't pull back.
Didn't defend.
Didn't care.
It let the blade cut into it just to get closer.
"To trade?" Kael muttered.
He twisted, forcing it off balance—
But more were already coming.
Not one.
Not two.
A wave.
They crawled out of the ground, dropped from above, rushed in from the sides—
No pattern.
No coordination.
Just pure, mindless aggression.
"Why aren't they stopping?!" one of the squad shouted as he cut one down—only for another to immediately take its place.
"They don't care if they die!" Cyrus snapped back.
That was obvious now.
One of the creatures got its arm cut off—
It didn't even slow down.
Just kept charging.
Claws, teeth, body—whatever it had left.
Kael's eyes sharpened.
"…They're not fighting to win."
Cyrus blocked another strike, breath tightening. "…Then what?"
Kael didn't like the answer forming in his head.
"…They're trying to wear us down."
And just like that—
Everything clicked.
No tactics.
No retreat.
No survival instinct.
Just endless pressure.
Slowly grinding them down.
"…Then we break through," Cyrus said.
Kael nodded.
"…We don't stay here."
His breathing slowed again.
That familiar tension building in his body.
"…Push forward."
They moved as one.
Not holding ground anymore.
Not reacting.
Forcing their way through.
Kael stepped ahead—
And this time—
He didn't hold back.
The air around him shifted slightly.
Not loud.
Not flashy.
But enough.
His blade moved—
And something deeper moved with it.
The next creature that rushed him—
Split clean in half.
No resistance.
No delay.
Cyrus saw it.
"…You're using it again."
Kael didn't respond.
He just kept moving.
Because if they stayed—
They'd get buried.
And somewhere deep down—
He knew.
This wasn't the worst of it yet.
—
Zael stopped.
Not because he wanted to.
Because he had to.
His chest rose and fell slowly, sweat mixing with the dark stains on his clothes.
"…This is getting ridiculous."
He had been moving non-stop.
Fighting non-stop.
And still—
They kept coming.
He didn't even try to hide anymore.
Didn't try to mask himself.
Didn't matter.
A low growl echoed from behind him.
Then another.
Then—
More.
Zael let out a short breath.
"…Of course."
He turned.
Didn't wait.
Didn't think.
They rushed him.
Five.
Then eight.
Then more behind them.
Zael stepped forward.
Void Step.
Gone.
Reappeared in the middle of them.
Blade Domain—
Tight.
Controlled.
The first one died instantly.
The second lunged—
He let it hit.
Claws scraped across his shoulder—
But in that same moment—
His blade went through its throat.
Trade.
Fast.
Efficient.
No hesitation.
They didn't stop.
Didn't slow.
Even when they started dropping one after another—
They just kept coming.
"…Fine."
Zael's voice dropped.
"If that's how you want it."
He stopped holding back his rhythm.
Every movement sharper.
Every strike cleaner.
Faster.
More precise.
Bodies hit the ground one after another.
He didn't even count anymore.
Didn't need to.
Because it never ended.
Finally—
Silence.
For a few seconds.
Zael didn't move.
He just stood there.
Then crouched.
Hand pressing against one of the corpses.
"…Devour."
The pull hit immediately.
Heavy.
Stronger than before.
---
[Devour Activated]
---
Energy surged into him.
Not just raw power—
Something deeper.
---
[Strength +12]
[Agility +9]
[Vitality +8]
---
[Skill Acquired: Frenzied Claw (Rare)]
---
[Supreme Blessing Activated]
---
[Frenzied Claw → Abyss Rend (Epic)]
A violent tearing strike that ignores partial defense and causes stacking damage.
---
Zael exhaled slowly.
"…Good."
He stood up—
And froze.
Because now—
He could feel it.
Not the small ones.
Not the waves.
Something else.
Far away.
But locked onto him.
Heavy.
Patient.
Waiting.
Zael's grip tightened.
"…So you're the one."
He didn't smile.
Didn't rush.
Just turned—
And started moving again.
But faster this time.
Because now—
It wasn't just pressure.
It was direction.
—
Aurelia stopped so suddenly the others almost ran into her.
"…What now?" the spear guy snapped, already on edge.
Auralis didn't joke this time.
She felt it too.
"…Something's coming."
The ground shook.
Not lightly.
Hard.
Like something big was moving underneath.
Then—
They burst out.
Not like before.
Bigger.
Faster.
More.
And just like the others—
They didn't stop.
Didn't hesitate.
Didn't care if they died.
One got split open—
It still tried to bite.
Another lost half its body—
Still clawed forward.
"…What the hell is wrong with them?!" the dagger girl shouted.
Aurelia's eyes narrowed.
"…They're not acting on instinct."
Auralis cracked her neck slightly.
"…Then what?"
Aurelia's voice was quiet.
"…Something's pushing them."
That was all it took.
No one spoke again.
Because they all understood what that meant.
Auralis stepped forward.
Hammer dragging slightly.
"…Then we break whatever's pushing."
She moved first.
Straight into them.
No hesitation.
No holding back.
The clash was loud.
Messy.
Brutal.
And for the first time—
Even she didn't smile.
—
Somewhere else—
A group of awakeners were already falling apart.
"RUN!"
They didn't listen.
Or couldn't.
Because there was nowhere to run.
The creatures didn't stop.
Didn't chase.
Didn't hunt.
They just kept coming.
Wave after wave.
Until there was nothing left.
—
Back with Kael—
He slowed slightly.
Just enough to notice.
The attacks weren't stopping.
They weren't even spacing out anymore.
They were increasing.
Cyrus wiped blood off his face, breathing heavier now.
"…This isn't sustainable."
Kael nodded.
"…I know."
Another wave came.
They cut through it.
Barely.
Kael's eyes lifted slightly.
"…It's started."
Cyrus frowned. "…What has?"
Kael didn't answer right away.
Because he didn't have proof.
Just instinct.
And experience.
"…We're being worn down."
A pause.
"…All of us."
And far away—
Across layers—
Across distances—
The same thing was happening.
To everyone.
Not random.
Not coincidence.
Something was pushing the Abyss.
Harder.
Faster.
Relentless.
And it wasn't stopping anytime soon.
---
Few hours later....
Zael didn't stop moving.
At this point, stopping just meant more pain later.
His breathing was steady, but his body wasn't fresh anymore. Small cuts. Bruises. Muscle fatigue building up little by little.
Nothing serious.
But it stacked.
Everything here stacked.
A low rumble came from ahead.
Zael didn't slow.
He adjusted his grip instead.
"…Come out."
The ground cracked.
Not a small one this time.
Something bigger forced its way out—massive shoulders, thick hide, jagged bone protrusions along its spine.
Abyssal brute type.
Slow—
But strong.
It roared and charged.
Zael moved.
Void Step.
He vanished—
Reappeared to the side—
Blade flashing toward its neck.
The blade hit.
And stopped.
"…Tch."
Too thick.
The beast swung.
Fast for its size.
Zael barely slipped under it, the wind pressure alone scraping across his face.
He didn't retreat.
Didn't create distance.
He stepped in.
Closer.
Resonance Strike—
Point blank.
The impact shook the beast's entire frame.
It staggered.
Not enough.
It roared again, raising both arms—
Trying to crush him.
Zael's eyes sharpened.
"…Now."
Phantom Split.
A second Zael appeared—
Drawing the attack.
The real one moved low—
Abyss Rend activated.
His blade tore upward—
This time—
It went through.
Deep.
Violent.
The beast froze for half a second—
Then—
Collapsed.
Hard.
The ground shook when it fell.
Silence followed.
Zael stood there for a second, chest rising slowly.
"…Finally."
Then—
The system hit.
---
[You have defeated Abyssal Brute (Tier 3)]
[EXP Gained: +11,500]
---
[Level Up!]
---
Zael's eyes flickered.
"…29."
That felt different.
Not just another level.
Close.
Too close.
---
[Status Panel]
Name: Zael
Level: 29
EXP: 2,100 / 29,000
Class: Child of Dao
Grade: ???
Description:
Born of Dao, by Dao and of Dao. Fate has no effect on you and destiny traps you not. You are shielded by the heavens so divination, curses and all mental effects of all kinds have no effect on you.
Traits:
• Devouring
You are not limited to leveling up using exp gained from killing alone. As a Dao born you cultivate the spirit of heaven and earth. You can devour beasts, other humans, items, and any other things with spirituality to gain exp or universal/specific attribute points, skills and even talents.
• Origin
Dao begets one, one begets two, two begets three and three begets all things. You are the child of Dao, in essence you are Dao. Everything originates from Dao, so everything originates from you. You are not limited by profession/class specific skills, equipment or items.
• Balance
Dao upholds the balance, so do you. Apart from specific attribute points gained from Devouring, all free attribute points gained from leveling up or any other form is evenly distributed across all stats.
Sub-trait: All awakening tasks are set to the highest level possible.
• Limit Break
Dao is unlimited, so are you. You are not limited by the things that bind others. Level requirements for certain quests, missions, dungeons or restricted areas have no effect on you. As long as your mana/energy/qi is sufficient, you can wield equipment up to 100 levels above yours. Barriers also lose their effect under the same condition.
• Evolution
Every ten levels after completing the awakening task, you must undergo a thunder tribulation which is life threatening. Upon success, you are rewarded with attribute points, skills, and even talents.
Talents:
• Supreme Blessing (Mythical)
• Ascendant Echo (Mythical)
• Adaptive Evolution (Mythical)
Attributes:
• Strength: 181 → 192
• Agility: 189 → 201
• Vitality: 176 → 185
• Intelligence: 162 → 170
• Perception: 151 → 160
Skills:
• Blade Domain (Legendary)
• Void Step (Legendary)
• Resonance Strike (Epic)
• Night Sever (Epic)
• Phantom Split (Legendary)
• Predator's Domain (Epic)
• Abyss Rend (Epic)
• Crimson Feast (Epic)
• Abyssal Carapace (Epic)
---
Zael stared at the panel longer this time.
"…Highest level possible…"
That line stayed in his head.
Not normal.
Never had been.
But now—
It meant something else.
"…Level 30."
First class change.
Which also meant—
First awakening task tied to his class.
And if Balance was right—
Then it wouldn't be normal.
It would be the hardest version possible.
Zael exhaled slowly.
"…Of course it is."
His gaze shifted to the corpse.
No hesitation.
"…Devour."
---
[Devour Activated]
---
The energy surged in.
Heavier than before.
---
[Strength +15]
[Vitality +12]
---
Zael clenched his fist slightly.
Feeling the increase.
Real.
Solid.
Not just numbers.
"…Not enough."
Because now—
He understood something clearly.
Leveling wasn't his main growth.
Devouring was.
Skills.
Stats.
Even talents.
All of it—
Came faster this way.
Which meant—
If the Abyss wanted to hunt him—
Then he'd use it.
Take everything it sent.
Grow faster than it expected.
Zael stood up slowly.
Then paused.
That feeling again.
But stronger.
Closer.
Watching.
Waiting.
Not like the others.
This one—
Was patient.
Zael's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…Good."
No fear.
Just focus.
Because if this was what waited before level 30—
Then he needed it.
He adjusted his grip on his blade.
Turned toward Blood Peak.
And started moving again.
Faster.
Because now—
It wasn't just about surviving the hunt.
It was about getting strong enough—
To survive what came after.