NOVEL NEXT Chapter 75: A
In the endless void of darkness, where no stars shone and no sound existed save for whispers of the abyss, a vast throne of obsidian loomed. Its form twisted, carved from something older and corrupted and upon it sat a figure cloaked in darkness, his very presence bending the space around him, as though the void itself bowed in reverence.
The figure leaning against the armrest with closed eyes, lost in thought.
A kneeling silhouette enters the grand chamber, shivering at his feet, his voice trembling but steady enough to relay his message.
"My Lord… news from Elderwood Forest."
The cloaked figure on the throne did not move. Suddenly, the eyes of the figure opened. The faint glow of his eyes, two narrow slits of crimson, acknowledged the speaker.
"Speak." His voice was calm, but it slithered through the void like a blade pressed against flesh.
"The serpent… has been destroyed. Both the female and the male were slain."
A long silence. Then, slowly, the figure leaned forward. "Impossible. That beast carried the basilisk bloodline. None in that region had the power to kill it."
The kneeling man pressed his forehead deeper into the ground. "And yet… There was light, my lord. A holy light that split the battlefield and turned the tide. The men in the city whisper of salvation, of a shining blade. It was the Church of Eternal Light."
The throne room fell deathly still. Then the air trembled.
"The Church…" the figure murmured, crimson eyes narrowing. His voice deepened, colder than before. "So they dare meddle in my designs once again."
The messenger swallowed, daring to ask, "Shall I dispatch hunters, my lord?"
The figure leaned back against the vast armrest of his throne, closing his eyes as though withdrawing into thought. For a moment, he appeared almost tranquil, yet the air itself buckled under the weight of his presence.
"No." His voice, though quiet, carried with it a finality that made the kneeling man's heart falter. "The game has just begun. Let the Church bask in its hollow victory. Let them believe they've saved the ants of that wretched city."
His pale fingers drummed once on the throne's surface, then stilled.
"But find the truth of the one who slew the serpent. If there is a player the Church has not accounted for… I want him brought to me."
The kneeling silhouette bowed low. "As you command, my lord."
The throne's occupant let his head rest lightly against the carved stone, eyes still shut, lips curving in a faint, chilling smile that was more blade than human warmth.
"In the end… everything bends to the abyss."
The void swallowed the chamber whole, erasing even the echo of his voice.
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A boar like beast let out a dying scream before collapsing and having its last breath. Astrael's blade is still buried in its throat. Blood steamed in the cold morning air, its last breath fading into silence.
[Ding!]
[You have acquired the soul energy of Level 24 Charging Boar]
[Class trial in progress — Soul Energy will be granted after class selection.]
[Ding! The Divine Talent <Plunder> has activated.]
[ You have acquired: ]
[Strength +12]
[Frenzied Charge (C)]
Astrael yanked his blade free from the boar's blood dripping down the blade. His expression didn't deviate, but his eyes gleamed faintly as the system's chime echoed in his head.
"…Another one," he muttered under his breath.
nyuu~
Clawdia padded up beside him, her silver fur flecked with gore, her fangs stained. She licked her muzzle, tilting her head at him with that half-wild, half-loyal look she always carried.
Astrael wiped the blade clean on the wolf's hide, his gaze flicking up toward the canopy where pale sunlight bled through the leaves.
It's been one month… already
Its been one month, the day he left home.
His mind replayed the chaos—the basilisk-blooded serpent, Baldoc's holy light, the beast tide against Greenhollow, the broken city still mourning its dead. He had buried himself in the forest ever since, hunting endlessly, testing the limits of his body, testing the gift that was his divine talent.
This power… He clenched his fist, watching faint green threads of venom dance along his knuckles before dissipating. But what am I becoming? Human? Or something else entirely?
The poison in him almost dissipated. He was surprised that it took him so much time to be in peak condition.
The corpse at his feet began to dissolve into faint ash-like motes, carried away by the system's absorption.
He exhaled slowly, running a hand through his sweat-soaked hair. "A month of killing… and I'm only scratching the surface. Still too weak. Still not enough."
Clawdia whined softly, nudging his arm with her snout.
He allowed a faint smile, reaching down to scratch behind her ears. "Don't look at me like that. I'm not stopping."
"But before that"
"Status"
Host: Astrael Ravenastra / Age: 15 yrs / Race: Human
Title: Blood Berserker, Goblin Slayer....
Class: None
Cultivation: Novice stage 3
Level: 25
Exp.: - / -
Bloodline: Ravensastra Bloodline
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Attributes:
- Strength:198 / Agility: 184 / Intelligence: 300 / Endurance: 177 / Vitality: 167 / Charm: 30 / Soul: 100 (LOCKED)
- SP: 24
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[Soul World]
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Innate Talent:
[ Plunder (???) ] / [ Synthesis (???) ]
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Skills and Abilities:
[ Appraise ]
[ Inventory ]
[ Sword Mastery (Master) ]
[ Quick Draw (E) lvl. 9(max) ]
[ Mana Augmentation (E) lvl. 9(max) ]
[ Bood Berserker (C) ]
[ Iron Body (D)]
[ Savage Endurance (E) ]
[ Blood Veil (E) ]
[Blood Howl (E)]
[Blood Claw(E)]
[Predator's Dominion (B).]
[Venom Resistance (D)]
[Emerald Scale (D)]
[Dash (D)]
[Iron Hide (E)]
[Charge (E)]
[ Venom Acid (C)]
[ Poison Resistance (C)]
[ Basilisk Scales (B)]
[ Basilisk's Glare (B)]
[Tempest Blade (D)]
[ Frenzied Charge (C) ]
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[Charge (E) has merged with Frenzied Charge (C), evolving into Frenzied Charge (C+). Efficiency increased by 30%. On hit, triggers Frenzy state, granting +15% Attack and +20% Speed for 6s. If missed, stamina cost lowers and cooldown reduces by 10%.]
Astrael's brows twitched faintly. "...This is getting ridiculous."
He scrolled through, line by line, his eyes lingering on the Basilisk traits and the rare skill. Even after a month, the shock of acquiring beast-born powers hadn't fully dulled—but now, it was no longer disbelief. It was hunger.
Still, he couldn't ignore the truth gnawing at the edges of his thoughts.
He flicked the panel to reveal his status. His strength, agility, constitution, and essence were no longer climbing in leaps The beasts he fought now barely give the stats.
He exhaled through his nose. "At the start, every kill made me stronger. Now? I need ten times the effort for the same result." His gaze sharpened. "So that's the price of strength."
Clawdia circled him, curling at his side, resting her head against his thigh. Her silver eyes glimmered faintly as if she understood his frustration.
Astrael let his fingers drag absently through her fur while staring at the skill list again. Something else caught his eye—the faint greyed-out lines below some skills, marks of abilities he had plundered but were later assimilated.
"...System is automatically combining the lower skill with the powerful one, which basically increases the efficiency of the existing one," Astrael murmured.
The system seemed to pulse faintly, as though acknowledging his realisation.
He closed the panel with a sigh, leaning back against the tree trunk. "The world keeps raising the bar…"
Then Astrael silently activated his Synthesis skill.
[Would you like to attempt synthesis between Basilisk Scales (B), Emerald Scale (D), Iron Hide (E), and Iron Body (D)?]
"Yes"
[Analysing skill compatibility...]
[Initiating Synthesis...]
[Loading. Please Wait....]
[Synthesis Successful!]
[New Ability Acquired –Draconic Aegis (A-)]
[Draconic Aegis (B+) – Active/Passive: A fusion of scales and iron flesh, your body becomes a living fortress. Passively, damage taken is reduced by 25% and you regenerate 2% of max HP every 10 seconds. When activated, defences peak, reducing physical and magical damage by an additional 20% and releasing a petrifying aura that slows nearby enemies by 30% for 5 seconds. Cooldown: 60s.]
[Would you like to attempt synthesis between Basilisk's Glare (B) and Predator's Dominion (B)?]
"Yes"
[Analysing skill compatibility...]
[Initiating Synthesis...]
[Loading. Please Wait....]
[Synthesis Successful!]
[New Ability Acquired –Tyrant's Gaze (A–)]
[Tyrant's Gaze (A–) – Active/Passive: Forged from Basilisk's Glare and Predator's Dominion, your very presence crushes lesser wills. Passively, enemies within 10m suffer –15% attack speed and –10% defence. When activated, your gaze locks onto a foe, instilling fear and a 30% chance to inflict partial petrification for 3 seconds. Cooldown: 45s.
"Holy… hell."
Astrael stared at the glowing system window, his pupils shrinking slightly as the words pulsed in front of him. His throat felt dry, and he let out a sharp exhale through his nose.
An A-rank. An actual A-rank.
His hand unconsciously flexed against his knee, fingers trembling slightly.
The name itself made his chest tighten. He didn't even need to test it—the system's description alone painted a vivid image. Enemies wilting under his aura. Soldiers freezing mid-swing. Beasts hesitate before striking. Entire battlefields are shifting because of his presence.
"…This is the kind of skill that changes the way people look at you," Astrael muttered, voice low. His lips curved into a faint, wry grin.
Clawdia's golden eyes watched him intently, her tail flicking. She gave a soft whine, as though sensing the change in him.
Astrael rubbed his face, forcing himself to calm down. The system window still hung in the air, taunting him with its brilliance.
But this also means something else… His thoughts darkened. The stronger I get, the more attention I'll draw. Tyrant's Gaze isn't subtle. The wrong person sees this, and they'll brand me a threat before I even lift my sword.
He closed the panel with a snap of his will. The glowing text vanished into the night, leaving only silence and the rustle of leaves.
Leaning back against the tree, he let out another long sigh, his breath curling in the cool air.
Clawdia pressed closer, resting her head against his thigh.
Astrael smirked faintly and scratched behind her ear. "Guess we're in it together, girl. Stronger… and scarier than before."
But even as he said it, a shadow of unease lingered in the back of his mind.