Ryan found what he was looking for.
As he flipped through the final document, a wicked grin crept across his face. "You're so cooked, Kramas," he chuckled, stuffing the letter into his cloak. The dirt he had just uncovered wasn't just incriminating—it was kingdom-shaking.
Letter to the Orcs: Zephyr Project
Greetings, Orcs of Zulania,
It is with a heavy heart that I, Kramas Veolona, write to you regarding the fractured state of our relationship. It has been a hundred years since the current royal family took control of the Elven Kingdom. Since then, our bonds have decayed.
I seek to restore that former unity—slowly, carefully. I propose a joint initiative: the Zephyr Project. If accepted, you will receive classified materials and resources from within the kingdom. I believe this collaboration can usher in peace between our peoples once more.
Awaiting your response.
Yours in secrecy,
K.V.A.
Kramas A. Veolona
Treason. Plain and simple. If this got out, Kramas would be done for.
But Ryan wasn't satisfied yet.
He scoured the room for more. Scrolls. Transaction logs. Diagrams of magical converters and refined mana pipelines. There were lists of shipments—precious resources diverted from the kingdom's reserves to Zulania. Dozens of signed documents bore Kramas's name and seal.
Ryan stuffed everything he could into his coat—until a creak behind him made him freeze.
Damn it.
An orc, tall and muscle-bound, had returned early from its break. It stopped at the doorway, noticing it ajar. Curious, it reached out to push it shut—only to find Ryan inside.
"Well, well… What do we have here?" the orc sneered, raising a crude metal club lined with spikes.
Ryan's blood ran cold. The orc was massive, nearly seven feet tall, with a nose ring large enough to double as a doorknob.
The weapon came down like a meteor.
Ryan rolled left just in time. "Too close—!"
From the crouch, he jammed a compact taser attack into the orc's side. Electricity surged. The orc convulsed and collapsed.
No time to breathe.
Ryan bolted out of the room, racing through steel-lined corridors as red lights began to flash overhead.
[ALERT! INTRUDER DETECTED!]
"This is going to be a pain," Ryan groaned as he spotted a dozen armed orcs rushing in from the southern hall.
A direct fight? Not ideal.
He clenched his fists and gathered his mana.
Bolts of lightning erupted from his fingertips—but an orc bearing a crystalline shield stepped forward. The gems on its surface absorbed the energy completely.
Ryan cursed. Magic-nullifying gear? Seriously?
More orcs poured in from both ends. He was being boxed in.
Three of them rushed him. He ducked, spun, and sent one flying with a crackling punch to the stomach. The others hesitated, watching their ally crumple like a sack of potatoes.
Ryan didn't stop moving. He bolted through another hall, zapping orcs that got too close. Burn marks and unconscious bodies lined the floor.
He skidded to a stop at the next exit—only to find another group waiting.
"A dead end?" Ryan hissed.
The lead orc stepped forward, muscles flexed and face grim. "You've seen too much. You die here."
Behind him, others began closing in, their weapons raised. Some bore the same mana-absorbing shields.
Ryan took a deep breath, stepping back. "If I can't beat you with my electricity… I'll just borrow yours."
The orcs didn't understand at first.
Then they felt it.
The air changed. Static surged. The walls trembled. Sparks danced across Ryan's skin as the entire facility's energy began drawing toward him.
BOOM.
A blinding surge of lightning exploded outward. Walls cracked. Machinery combusted. A shockwave rippled through the forest, reaching all the way to the Elven Kingdom.
When the smoke cleared, the underground lab lay in ruins. Fires raged. Most of the orcs were unconscious, some barely crawling.
The leader fell to his knees. "H-How… How are we going to explain this to Lord Kramas?"
His scream echoed through the burning halls.
Meanwhile, Ryan stumbled out of the rubble, scorched and bruised. But alive.
[Ping! Ping!]
> [You've killed dozens of orcs – +15,000 EXP]
[First human to kill an orc – +5,000 EXP]
[You've leveled up multiple times!]
"Worth it," Ryan wheezed.
---
Hours later, he trudged through the forest, finally reaching the Zephyr River. Denzel was already waiting at the bank, casually mixing herbs in a small cauldron.
"You're late," Denzel said without looking up.
Ryan flopped down beside him. "You're heartless. I nearly died, and that's your greeting?"
"That's your problem, not mine."
Ryan opened his mouth to argue—then closed it. "Fine. Whatever."
Denzel extended his palm, revealing a glowing green orb. "It's ready."
"What is it?"
"The cure. At first, I thought the sickness was waterborne, but the real cause was contaminated mana. Impure mana crystals—purple ones. I found traces of them in the river."
Ryan blinked. "Purple… You're right. I saw them everywhere—in goo, in those shields—man, today was very purple."
"Exactly," Denzel nodded. "Those are unstable crystals. If ingested, they cause mana overload syndrome—nerves, organs, circulation. All affected."
"With [Creator's Hand], I synthesized an antidote," he added, handing Ryan the pill. "Try it."
Ryan hesitated—then swallowed it.
A warm surge spread through his veins. His fatigue vanished, replaced by fresh energy.
"It works," he said, amazed.
"Good. Now give me what you found."
Ryan handed over a stack of stolen documents. Denzel's eyes scanned them quickly.
"Perfect," he said, sliding them into his coat. "Time to end this."
He stood and turned toward the distant palace, slipping his mask back on.
There was only one task left:
Convince the princess.
---
[END OF CHAPTER]
[STATUS WINDOW – RYAN HERMANN]
Name: Ryan Hermann
Race: Human
Class: Mage (Lightning Elementalist)
Level: 19
EXP: 15,700 / 20,000
[VITAL STATS]
HP: 1,720 / 1,720
MP: 2,400 / 2,400
Stamina: 1,050 / 1,050
[CORE ATTRIBUTES]
Strength: 35
Agility: 48
Vitality: 41
Intelligence: 85
Luck: 23
Charm: 29
[SKILLS]
Advanced Lightning Magic (Lv. 8) – Mastery over destructive lightning-based spells.
Mana Manipulation (Lv. 6) – Efficiently controls internal and external mana flow.
Chain Lightning (Lv. 5) – Multi-target lightning arc spell.
Thunderstep (Lv. 5) – Instant short-range lightning-speed movement.
Arcane Barrier (Lv. 3) – Defensive shield infused with arcane and lightning magic.
Electromagnetic Field (Lv. 3) – (Passive) Slightly distorts enemy attacks; now reduces projectile accuracy.
Tesla Discharge (Lv. 2) – Emits a radial burst of energy, stunning nearby enemies.
Electric Flux: Overdrive (Lv. 1) – Converts facility power sources into explosive mana bursts (Unlocked during escape mission).
[UNIQUE TRAITS]
Thundergod's Descent (SS-Rank – Active)
Temporarily become the vessel of the Thunder God. Boosts all stats by +200% and unleashes a powerful lightning storm. Unlocked true potential during Orc Facility Raid.
Mana Purity (S-Rank – Passive)
Your mana is nearly flawless — spell casting speed, intensity, and resistance penetration are significantly enhanced.
Overload Threshold (A-Rank – Passive)
MP overflow can be redirected to temporarily boost strength and speed. Risk of exhaustion if overused.
[INVENTORY]
[Kramas' Secret Documents]
[Denzel's Prototype Cure Pill (Consumed)]
[Charred Orc Tooth Necklace] (Useless, but kinda cool)
[Empty Pockets of Glory]
[STATUS EFFECTS]
Charged with latent lightning energy – Minor speed and MP regeneration boost.
Slight burn on shoulder – Cosmetic. Healed naturally.
Electric Overload Cooldown – Unable to use Electric Flux: Overdrive for 6 hours.
[SYSTEM NOTE]
Your power is no longer just a storm — it's a tempest on the brink of awakening. Prepare for Next Awakening at Level 20.