While the Battalion Commanders clashed against the Ancient Troilo, the rest of the soldiers were struggling to hold their ground. The Troilo Hunters—swift and merciless—moved like shadows among the chaos, thrusting their crude yet deadly spears into exposed gaps in the soldiers' defenses. The battalion's formation, once tight and coordinated, was breaking apart under the relentless assault.
On the sidelines, Pyro watched silently, his arms folded. His eyes scanned the battlefield, not for enemies, but to judge the mettle of his troops. What he saw disappointed him deeply. The soldiers, overwhelmed and disorganized, panicked. Screams rang out. Many had dropped their shields, scattering in confusion as they were picked off one by one.
One soldier stumbled backward, a Troilo Hunter poised to end his life—until steel clashed against the hunter's spear with a deafening clang.
Ashen.
His newly acquired Damascus Blade cleaved the crude weapon in two, slicing clean through the spear and the creature's torso in a single motion.
Ding!
You gained 120 experience points.
Ding!
You have leveled up!
"Finally leveled up... it's been a full day," Ashen muttered under his breath, glancing at the system prompt. "Getting experience without boss kills is way slower than I thought."
But now wasn't the time to think. Fueled by adrenaline and a surge of strength from his level-up, Ashen launched into a ferocious assault. He darted between enemies, weaving through blows with precision honed from countless battles.
98 Hit Points
89 Hit Points
120 Critical Strike!
Swords clashed. Spears shattered. Blood sprayed across the field as Ashen tore through the Troilo Hunters with surgical efficiency. His movements inspired awe and renewed courage in the hearts of his allies.
Ding!
After a series of incredible actions, your skill and bravery have stunned the soldiers.
50 Timber Kingdom Reputation
Soldier morale has increased to HIGH.
The soldiers, previously on the verge of collapse, now roared with renewed determination. Their eyes burned with purpose as they followed Ashen's lead, rallying with fresh ferocity.
"Charge! For the Timber Kingdom!" someone shouted.
Blades met flesh. Arrows flew. The tide had turned.
From his vantage, Pyro narrowed his eyes. Ashen's skills, his intuition, his influence on the morale—he had exceeded every expectation. This wasn't just luck or brute strength. This was battlefield leadership.
But Ashen was unaware of the respect he was earning. He was too focused—too caught in the rhythm of battle, watching notifications flash by and observing the effect his actions had on the soldiers.
Hours passed, and the battlefield quieted. The final cry of a Troilo marked the end of the battle. Blood soaked the earth, and bodies littered the ground. The weary but victorious soldiers began to cheer. Laughter erupted across the field as they celebrated their hard-won triumph. Alex and the other battalion commanders joined them, offering proud smiles to their men.
But Ashen felt a strange sensation.
That creeping unease in his gut... it was familiar. The same feeling he'd had before encountering the Goblin King not long ago. A deep, instinctual warning.
He turned to Pyro, who was already shouting.
"Form up! Soldier square formation! Everyone, now!"
The abrupt command silenced the celebration. Though confused, the troops obeyed without question, reforming into a tight square. Battalion commanders barked orders, pulling stragglers into place.
Then—a massive shadow.
A tree hurtled through the air.
Alex reacted instantly, stepping forward and kicking the flying trunk with a burst of strength that sent it spiraling away from the formation.
From the forest's edge emerged a nightmare.
An enormous ape-like creature, covered in scarred black hide. Its eyes glowed with primal rage, its shoulders wider than most men were tall. Each step it took shook the earth.
[ Mento – Ancient Troilo King??? ]
(Boss Monster)
< Hit Points: 25,000 / 25,000 >
< Mana: 500 / 500 >
Skills:
Absolute Strength
Metal Skin
Feather Feet
Aura: Green Despair
Battle Instinct
Command
Heroic Leap
Sky Kick
Ashen froze.
He couldn't even see its level. That meant one thing—it was too high for him to comprehend.
His hands trembled.
Even the bravest of the soldiers quivered in their boots. Some instinctively stepped back. Others whispered prayers. It was the kind of fear that made a man want to run home, hide with his family, and pretend the world wasn't ending.
But Ashen didn't flinch.
He didn't think of escape. He didn't wish for safety. Even if he had to sacrifice himself, he would fight.
Opening his status window, he dumped all remaining attribute points into Strength.
Ashen's Updated Stats:
Name: Ashen
Race: Human
Level: 14
Experience Bar: 300 / 12,000
Hit Points: 120 / 200 | +100
Mana: 25 / 25
Physical Attack: 30–60 | +24
Magical Attack: 5
Physical Defense: 20 | +42
Magical Defense: 5
Job Class: None
Sub Class: None
Attributes:
Strength: 48 | +22
Agility: 28 | +7
Intelligence: 5
Vitality: 10
Dexterity: 20 | +3
Attribute Points Remaining: 0
Skills:
Active: (Press Impact)
Passive: (Martial Arts LVL 1), (Vital Strike)
Items Equipped:
Weapon: Damascus Blade [Uncommon] – +24 Physical Attack
Torso: Timber Wolf Pelt [Common] – +8 Physical Defense
Gloves: Clean Gloves [Uncommon] – +8 Physical Defense, +3 Agility, +1 Strength
Bracers: Fine Bracers [Uncommon] – +8 Physical Defense, +3 Strength, +1 Agility
Legs: Timber Wolf Leg Pelt [Common] – +5 Physical Defense
Shoes: Timber Wolf Fur Shoes [Common] – +5 Physical Defense
Cape: Timber Wolf Fur Cape [Common] – +5 Physical Defense
Accessories:
Amulet of Pain [Rare] – HP +100, Dexterity +3, Strength +3, Agility +3
Special Effect: Chance to double critical damage
Bracelet of Brute [Rare] – Special Effect: +5 Strength when fighting higher-level enemies
(No Rings, Trinkets, Earrings Equipped)
With his current stats—particularly Strength—Ashen stood well above the average player at his level. Three, maybe even four times stronger than most. But even with all that power, he felt like an insect beneath the gaze of the Ancient Troilo King.
Still, he gripped his sword tighter.
The battle wasn't over.
It had only just begun.