The news traveled slower than destruction, but it still arrived.
"The Ardent District has fallen."
Jeather heard it from wandering merchants near the forest outskirts. Broken caravans. Burned banners. Refugees carrying children wrapped in soot-stained cloth. Soldiers marching without formation. The name Ardent spoken like something buried.
He stood beneath the trees, silent.
"…So it still got destroyed."
He exhaled slowly.
Maybe there were beasts stronger than platinum summoned after he left. Maybe the ten platinum monsters were just the beginning. Maybe something worse crawled out of whatever abyss had birthed the Root Core.
He felt no pride.
No guilt.
Just calculation.
"…Good thing I retreated."
If he had stayed, he would be dead.
Simple as that.
The forest wind moved through the leaves, calmer than the chaos he'd left behind.
And then—
Thud.
Something heavy climbed onto his shoulder.
"Jeeett…"
Jeather turned his head slowly.
Sitting on him like a spoiled toddler was a compact humanoid golem no taller than his torso, body made of dark earthen stone veined faintly with glowing orange magma cracks. His eyes were bright molten gold.
Saxum.
The Mystery Egg had hatched into this creature during the platinum chaos, forcing Jeather's retreat. And now here he was.
Bronze Rank.
Elemental Shifter.
Battle addict.
Professional climber.
"Jett. Fight?" Saxum asked eagerly.
"No."
Saxum puffed his rocky cheeks and shifted forms instantly.
His body liquefied—
Now he was a Lava Golem, molten and steaming.
Then flash-froze—
An Ice Golem, crystalline and sharp-edged.
Then hardened into polished metallic sheen—
A Metal Golem, compact and dense.
He shifted back to earthen form and tugged Jeather's collar.
"Fight."
"…You were born yesterday."
"Yesterday strong."
Jeather pinched the bridge of his nose.
Behind him, Astrael stood calmly.
Bronze Rank.
Once Verdant.
Now evolved.
Tall, demonic, forest-wreathed presence. Dark green-black armor grown like bark fused to flesh. Crimson eyes glowing with quiet contempt. His long hair flowed like shadowed leaves. A subtle aura of nature bent around him.
Silver veins pulsed faintly beneath his skin—proof of near evolution.
Velkaria stood to the side.
Silver Rank.
Albino Goblin Knight.
White hair flowing like moonlight over obsidian armor etched with crimson runes. Her presence was regal, sharp, disciplined. Her gaze steady.
"My Lord," she spoke softly, "the infant seeks validation through combat."
"I am not fighting a toddler," Jeather muttered.
Saxum suddenly leapt off him and pointed dramatically at Astrael.
"Tree demon! Fight!"
Astrael slowly looked down.
"…Infant."
"Fight!"
Astrael's eyes narrowed.
"Very well."
Velkaria stepped back immediately.
"Shall I officiate, my Lord?"
"…Sure."
They moved deeper into the forest clearing.
Saxum instantly shifted into Lava Form, ground beneath him hissing.
He charged.
Astrael did not move.
Roots erupted from the earth.
Saxum smashed through them, molten fists swinging wildly.
Astrael sidestepped with effortless elegance and struck once—
A controlled backhand infused with demonic aura.
Saxum flew through three trees.
"…Jett!" came the distant echo.
Jeather crossed his arms.
"He asked for it."
Saxum emerged seconds later—Ice Form now—eyes watery.
He charged again.
Velkaria stepped forward this time.
"Infant Saxum," she declared, blade forming from condensed aura, "permit me to demonstrate restraint."
They clashed.
Ice met silver steel.
Saxum was aggressive but undisciplined.
Velkaria moved like a knight drilled from birth.
Within thirty seconds, she tapped his forehead with the flat of her blade.
Saxum reverted to earth form and sat down.
His rocky lip trembled.
"…Jett…"
Then he burst into loud, echoing stone sobs.
Jeather stared.
"…You were literally trying to kill them five seconds ago."
"Lost…"
"You're Bronze."
Saxum waddled over and clung to Jeather's leg.
"Stronger…"
Astrael folded his arms.
"Infant requires discipline."
Velkaria knelt.
"My Lord, perhaps structured combat training would help his growth."
Jeather sighed.
"…Fine. Tomorrow."
Saxum sniffed.
"Tomorrow fight?"
"Yes."
"Okay."
Instant recovery.
Jeather shook his head.
Battle maniac baby.
What kind of existence did he summon?
Hunger Realization
Later that evening, as the sun dipped and shadows lengthened, Jeather sat by a small fire.
He had potions.
Dried rations.
Water skins.
Saxum sat beside him chewing—
On a rock.
"…Why are you eating a rock?"
"Crunchy."
"That is not food."
Saxum blinked.
"…Hungry."
Jeather paused.
"Hungry?"
Velkaria glanced at Astrael.
Astrael looked away.
Jeather narrowed his eyes.
"…Wait."
He slowly turned.
"…When was the last time I fed you two?"
Silence.
Astrael cleared his throat.
"…Time is irrelevant."
Velkaria remained polite.
"My Lord has been preoccupied with platinum-tier survival."
Jeather's eyes widened.
"…How long."
Astrael hesitated.
"…Three days."
Jeather stood up abruptly.
"THREE DAYS?!"
Saxum blinked.
"Three days normal?"
"No! It is not normal!"
Velkaria looked mildly embarrassed.
"We assumed my Lord would recall."
Astrael added calmly, "We are capable of sustaining ourselves."
Jeather froze.
"…Sustaining yourselves?"
Silence.
He scanned the area.
There were bones.
Fresh bones.
Half-buried carcasses.
"…You've been hunting on your own."
Astrael shrugged.
"Minor beasts."
Velkaria nodded.
"We sealed some for you. Devoured others."
Jeather blinked.
"…You WHAT?"
Astrael tilted his head slightly.
"Consumption is necessary."
Jeather stared at them.
"You were sneakily capturing beasts to eat because I forgot to feed you?"
Velkaria lowered her gaze slightly.
"We did not wish to trouble you."
Saxum tugged Jeather's sleeve.
"Jett bad."
"I KNOW!"
He ran a hand through his hair.
"…I'm an idiot."
He looked at them seriously.
"From now on, if you're hungry—you tell me."
Astrael crossed his arms.
"We are not infants."
"You still tell me."
Velkaria nodded.
"Yes, my Lord."
Saxum raised both hands.
"Hungry!"
"…You're literally eating a rock."
"Hungry more."
Jeather sighed deeply.
"…Alright. Tomorrow we hunt properly."
Astrael smirked faintly.
"Acceptable."
The next morning, they moved together.
Not sealing.
Not training.
Hunting to eat.
Jeather activated detection.
Several edible-tier beasts registered nearby.
First target: Horned Moss Boar — Bronze Rank.
Large, bulky, covered in moss-like fur, thick tusks.
"Edible?" Jeather asked.
Velkaria nodded.
"Yes, my Lord."
Saxum shifted to Metal Form.
"Food fight!"
Astrael vanished into shadows.
The boar charged—
Velkaria intercepted cleanly, slicing tendons without killing it instantly.
Astrael struck from behind.
Saxum leaped and headbutted its skull.
Jeather delivered the finishing strike.
He did not seal it.
They butchered it.
Saxum watched intensely.
"Cook?"
"Yes. We cook."
Saxum nodded seriously.
"Important."
Jeather couldn't help but chuckle.
They cooked properly this time.
Saxum devoured with enthusiasm.
Astrael ate with restrained composure.
Velkaria consumed neatly, dignified even in carnage.
Jeather watched them.
"…Sorry."
Astrael paused slightly.
"For what?"
"For forgetting."
Velkaria smiled faintly.
"My Lord carries many burdens."
Saxum held up a bone triumphantly.
"Jett feed good!"
"…Thanks."
They continued hunting throughout the day.
Edible beasts only.
River Serpent Fry.
Thorned Forest Hare.
Rockback Lizard.
Jeather sealed none of them.
This was survival.
Family.
Responsibility.
He didn't expect that word to apply.
As night fell again, the system activated.
[System Mission Triggered]
Objective: Investigate the origin of this body.
Clue: Beyond the Mountain Range.
Reward: ???
Penalty: None.
Jeather froze.
A headache struck suddenly.
Images flashed.
Burned villages.
Hanged bodies.
Smoke-filled skies.
A noble banner torn in half.
Children screaming.
And a voice—
"You are a disgrace."
His breath grew heavy.
He clutched his head.
"…Beyond the mountains."
Velkaria stepped forward instantly.
"My Lord?"
Astrael's aura subtly flared.
"Your mind is unstable."
Saxum climbed onto him.
"Jett hurt?"
The visions faded.
Jeather exhaled sharply.
"…It's past this forest."
He looked north.
The mountains loomed in the distance.
Cold.
Unexplored.
Unclaimed.
"…That's where the truth is."
Astrael's crimson eyes glowed faintly.
"Then we go."
Velkaria placed her fist over her chest.
"My blade follows."
Saxum raised both fists.
"Fight mountain!"
Jeather smirked slightly.
"…Yeah."
He stood.
"Rest well. Tomorrow we move."
He looked at them.
All of them.
Demon.
Knight.
Battle-maniac baby golem.
"…And tell me when you're hungry."
Astrael scoffed faintly.
Velkaria smiled gently.
Saxum nodded seriously.
"Jett feed."
Jeather looked at the mountains again.
Something waited there.
Something tied to this body.
Something soaked in fire and execution ropes.
He didn't feel fear.
He felt inevitability.
"Beyond those mountains…"
His eyes hardened slightly.
"…That's where revenge starts."
And this time—
He would not forget what needed feeding.
Not his beasts.
Not his strength.
And definitely not his hatred.