Kaelen left Valorheim behind, the streets slowly giving way to the rolling fields and forests beyond. The morning sun streamed through the leaves, scattering golden light across the path ahead. Birds sang faintly in the distance, though their songs felt distant, almost irrelevant, to the intensity of the thoughts running through his mind.
He walked at a steady pace, Luna by his side, her golden eyes glinting as she scanned the forest edge. The dragon's wings were tucked, her tail swaying lightly behind her, but Kaelen could feel the tension coiled in her muscles.
Then he noticed it. Shadows flitted through the trees behind him. Not wildlife. Not random wanderers. Players.
Kaelen didn't flinch. A small grin tugged at his lips. So, someone wants to test me. Or maybe they just want to die.
He slowed his pace, letting the sound of footsteps reach his ears more clearly. Multiple sets, almost a dozen, all converging on his location. Their approach was deliberate, confident. These weren't beginners; they had numbers, and they had bravado.
Kaelen looked down at Luna and nodded, a silent communication. She stiffened, claws scraping faintly against the dirt, but he held up a hand. Not yet. Let me handle this.
"Gentlemen," he called out, voice calm yet carrying easily through the trees. "I suggest you reconsider whatever idea you have. I'm not here to fight, but I won't be merciful either. Mistaking me for someone who rolls over is your first and last mistake."
The players exchanged glances, and one of them — obviously the leader — stepped forward, smirking. "Numbers, friend. We don't need to care about mistakes when we have enough of us. You won't be able to stop all of us."
Kaelen's grin widened. "Numbers don't matter to me. Not anymore."
He shifted slightly, feeling the surge of power within his body, the divine energy flowing through his new class. Even with so many players, with Luna beside him, it would be like swatting ants if they tried anything.
The first player — a tall man wielding a longsword — charged. Confident. Reckless. Kaelen tightened his grip on his own sword. A flick of his wrist, a step forward, and a single slash of his blade ended the man before he even reached striking distance. The player's body crumpled silently to the earth, motionless.
A stunned silence fell over the remaining players. Their mouths opened, closed, and opened again, as though they couldn't comprehend what they had just witnessed.
Kaelen didn't pause. He advanced. They had made the mistake of thinking their numbers gave them safety. Now he would show them what happened when skill, strategy, and divine power combined.
The second wave rushed in, trying to overwhelm him. Kaelen charged forward, feeling the wind whip past him. He activated his new skill — Divine Charge. With incredible force, he slammed through the first cluster of players, then immediately followed with Dragon Slash.
Steel met steel in a flash, screams echoing briefly before fading as several players collapsed under the combined assault. The forest seemed to vibrate with the power emanating from Kaelen, an invisible force crushing the confidence of anyone who dared approach.
The leader's expression changed from arrogance to panic. He realized the futility of their endeavor, his bravado evaporating like mist in the morning sun. "Retreat!" he shouted, his voice trembling. "We can't fight him! Not like this!"
One by one, the remaining players fled, abandoning their pride and weapons alike. Some scrambled into the forest, tripping over roots and rocks. Others simply turned and ran, leaving everything behind. There was no shame in their flight — only survival. Kaelen let them go, stepping back and sheathing his sword, watching as the group disappeared into the treeline.
"This," he muttered softly to Luna, "is just the beginning."
The divine power within him was unlike anything the normal swordsman class could hope to achieve. His attack growth rating was seven, his health, defense, and speed all at six — perfectly balanced, designed to survive and dominate in combat. His skills had evolved with his new class, each strike carrying the weight of divine energy, and his class passive granted him a twenty percent critical strike chance and doubled critical damage. Every engagement was amplified. Every fight was decisive.
Luna chirped softly, a sound of approval, and Kaelen patted her head. "Don't worry, partner. We'll get stronger together."
The forest stretched ahead, dense and dark. Kaelen followed a narrow path that led deeper into the woods, away from the open plains and closer to the wild heart of the land. The rustling of leaves and distant calls of wildlife were the only sounds, until he noticed a faint glow emanating from a cave hidden beneath a rocky overhang.
Curiosity piqued, he approached cautiously. The entrance exuded a faint aura of mana — unstable, almost rotten. Luna's scales bristled slightly, sensing the unnatural energy. Kaelen nodded to her, and together they stepped inside.
The cave's interior was damp and cold, the walls lined with jagged rock. The air smelled faintly of decay. And then he saw the creatures.
The monsters were humanoid, skeletal figures with glowing eyes and shards of armor clinging to their frames. Their numbers seemed infinite, surrounding the inner chamber as if they had been waiting for intruders. Kaelen's eyes flicked to the levels displayed — around thirty for most, far above his current level sixteen.
Even so, he didn't hesitate. He raised his sword. Luna spread her wings, her body radiating readiness. "Let's do this," he murmured.
The first wave surged forward. Kaelen met them with a calm precision, weaving through attacks, his strikes carving through bone and armor. Each swing was measured, Dragon Slash and Divine Charge striking with perfect timing, Luna leaping and lunging in tandem, her claws raking into foes that dared approach.
The undead were relentless, circling, attacking from all directions, but Kaelen's combination of divine skill and elemental prowess made them falter. Their coordinated assault was met with counter after counter. Luna's presence alone forced many of the smaller skeletons to retreat, giving Kaelen the openings he needed to exploit weaknesses.
He moved fluidly, almost dancing through the chaos, closing gaps, dodging attacks, and launching deadly combos. Every strike and maneuver reinforced his understanding of his class's potential — how to maximize speed, power, and positioning.
Time blurred as the fight raged. Sweat and concentration melded into a singular focus. Each slain creature left experience points to absorb, steadily raising his level, and every encounter was a rehearsal for mastery. Luna never left his side, each coordinated strike between them a testament to their bond.
Hours passed in the dim light, the clash of steel and bone echoing through the cave. By the time the last undead fell, the interior was silent save for the faint drip of water from the stalactites above. Kaelen's chest heaved, his arms ached, but the sense of accomplishment surged through him like fire. He knelt beside Luna, letting the dragon rest briefly.
"This is just the start," he said softly. "There's so much to conquer… so much to learn."
He scanned the cave once more, the skeletal remains now littering the ground, a testament to the gap in power between him and normal players or monsters. Even creatures ten or twenty levels above him posed no real threat with Luna's help and his divine skills. The realization was sobering. He had been granted an edge unlike anyone else in the server — a head start that would only expand as he grew stronger.
Yet he didn't feel arrogant. He felt motivated. Every strike, every challenge, was a step forward — proof that the grind, the preparation, and the choices he made mattered. Each encounter strengthened him, honed his instincts, and reminded him why he had pursued this path in the first place.
After gathering a few rare drops from the cave and checking his loot, Kaelen leaned against the wall, catching his breath. The dim glow from Luna's scales illuminated the chamber, casting shifting shadows across the stalagmites. He closed his eyes for a moment, letting the silence wash over him.
"This forest… these monsters… it's just the beginning," he murmured. "Tomorrow, the levels, the gear, everything — it all counts. Nothing will hold us back."
Luna chirped softly, brushing against his shoulder. Kaelen smiled faintly, her warmth and presence a reminder that he wasn't alone in this world. Together, they would continue to grow stronger, conquer every challenge, and rise above every obstacle Ascendant threw at them.
For now, the cave was quiet, the monsters vanquished, and their path ahead was clear. Kaelen knew this was only the start of a journey that would change everything — his strength, his future, and the fate of all who crossed his path.
He sheathed his sword and surveyed the cavern one last time, ready to push deeper into the heart of the forest tomorrow. The journey of leveling, farming, and mastering Ascendant's challenges was far from over, and he welcomed it with open arms.
Inside the cave, surrounded by the remnants of battle and the eerie silence of the undead, Kaelen and Luna rested, preparing themselves for the trials yet to come.