Kyren sat up, his body slowly regaining its strength. As he tried to rise, his legs wobbled beneath him, and Lydel subtly reached out to steady him. Taking a deep breath, Kyren straightened and opened the Wayfinder's Realm, summoning Veldthar.
Light mana shimmered as the great eland appeared, shaking his body as if shedding the remnants of another plane. Veldthar lowered himself, allowing the boys to climb onto his back.
"Let's ride out, buddy. But please, not too fast," Kyren muttered, still feeling the lingering weight of exhaustion.
Veldthar snorted but obeyed, trotting across the plains and down the dirt road. His pace was still swift, but slow for him. The moon hung boldly in the sky, faintly illuminating the path ahead.
When they arrived at the mining village, Kyren noticed the wall of earth had crumbled—likely returning to the dust it came from after the Converted's death. Two men stood outside the village gates, gripping the discarded weapons of fallen cultists. They tensed at the sight of approaching riders but relaxed as recognition dawned.
"Our heroes have returned!" one of them called out, relief and joy thick in his voice.
Kyren gave a tired nod. "Like I said, I killed the Preacher—hopefully, the cult will dissolve."
There was doubt in his voice. He wanted to believe this was enough, that his actions had truly rid Longfoot of the cult's influence. But deep down, he knew better. He would have to check the system later.
The gates creaked open, and the villagers flooded forward to greet them. Men and women alike, all once forced to labor in the mines, now free. They spoke their thanks, offering handshakes, pats on the shoulder, and weary smiles.
An older man approached, his expression warm but cautious. "I don't know what you did, but no one from the cult has returned since you left."
Kyren crossed his arms. "I wasn't lying earlier." This time, there was a hint of confidence in his voice.
Nearby, Veldthar wandered into a fenced-off area, where children emerged from their tents. A few timidly reached out to touch his sleek coat, while others, braver, climbed onto his back. The eland snorted in amusement, clearly enjoying the attention.
The older man gestured toward the village center. "We set up a few extra tents. You're welcome to stay in one."
"Thank you so much. I'm exhausted," Lydel said, barely stifling a yawn.
The man led them to the tents, where they each chose one for the night. Lydel was asleep the moment he hit the ground, but Kyren remained awake, his mind too restless.
He opened the system, bringing up his status screen.
Level 7
600/700 XP
Level Up Rewards
Accept? [Yes] / [No]
Kyren didn't hesitate.
Yes.
His stat points instantly jumped by 100, displayed neatly in the top left corner of his vision. Scanning his inventory, he saw no new items—no new skills. But something new had appeared under Traits.
Trait: Relentless Ascension
"The weak adapt, the strong overcome. You do both."
Effects:
Adaptive Growth (Passive): Kyren's body and mana instinctively adjust to his experiences. Repeated exposure to certain attacks, environments, or battle conditions gradually increases his resistance or efficiency against them.
Pressure Forged (Active): The greater the challenge, the stronger Kyren becomes. When facing stronger enemies, his body and mana circulation temporarily improve, sharpening his skills and enhancing his abilities. However, this effect fades once the fight is over.
Kyren's chest swelled with determination. Even if he was at a stat deficit, this trait meant he could still find ways to win fights he shouldn't. His muscles tensed, his hands trembled—not with fear, but exhilaration.
Still, there was more to check. Scrolling down, he spotted Lydel's status.
Lydel
Level 6 (450/600 XP)
Level Up Rewards
Accept? [Yes] / [No]
Kyren once again thought Yes.
Lydel's stat points shot up to 150. Then, a new prompt appeared.
Would you like to give Lydel the Hero System?
[Yes] / [No]
(You can decide later.)
Kyren exhaled, staring at the prompt. He needed to talk to Lydel first, to explain at least some of it before just dropping this on him. He couldn't make this choice alone.
Pushing that thought aside for now, he scrolled to the Mission Section.
Mission: Cult Crusher
Objective: Destroy the cults festering in the inner villages and liberate the outskirts from their extorters.
Target Locations:
Zybana
Everwood
Timberfield
Thanto Outpost
Zafeer Outpost
Rewards:
500 Stat Points
1 Trait
1 Item
Kyren saw that Longfoot had been removed from the list. His chest tightened with pride—he had freed the city. Or, at least, the system believed he had. But had he really driven the cult out? Or would they slink back once the dust settled?
At the top of his vision, his compass shifted, its heading now aimed deeper into the vast plains.
85 miles to Zafeer Outpost.
Kyren sighed and laid down. Excitement warred with a faint sense of dread before exhaustion finally claimed him.
Kyren's dreams had been vivid before, but this one felt different. The images blurred and shifted, less real, more surreal.
A man in deep purple robes sat upon the throne that Leon had occupied in Kyren's past visions. Before him stood another man—one whose features bore a striking resemblance to both Leon and Grandma Windy. His skin was a deep, rich brown, his eyes a warm shade of brown with a golden tint.
He spoke first.
"You may have claimed my father's life, but that gives you no right to rule this city."
The man in purple robes chuckled, voice dripping with condescension. "Your father grew weak. He could no longer uphold the values of his own city. I am simply fixing his failures."
Leon's son turned his head, scoffing. But before he could respond, the robed man continued.
"Your family will thank me in the end. I will be this city's savior—the only reason your name will even be remembered."
Leon's son laughed. "My father never wanted to be remembered. And neither do I. All I want is for this city to follow his vision—not some cult's."
The vision rippled.
Kyren's eyes snapped open.
Sunlight filtered through the tent, golden and warm. He stretched his arms, shaking off the remnants of the dream before stepping outside.
Lydel stood near Veldthar, Liora perched on his shoulders. The little girl laughed, kicking her feet as the eland snorted in amusement.
Kyren ran a hand through his hair. "It's time we head out. We still gotta make it to Zybana before the next eclipse."
Lydel just shook his head. "Guess we better start moving, then."
Kyren nodded. Another step forward.
Another battle ahead.