Ethan darted from tree to tree, lungs burning. Escaping the wailing worm horde was no easy feat— even an early-stage Ascended would struggle. But thanks to Ethan's combat experience, sharp instincts, and powerful techniques, he managed to stay ahead. His Black Knight and Ork Chief fought fiercely on his behalf, and whenever they risked being overwhelmed, Ethan quickly recalled them.
Thank the gods his mana reserves were holding out—barely. The mana-rich air of the Forbidden Forest also bought him precious time.
SHRIIIIEEEKK!
Five wailing worms lunged from the shadows with frightening speed. Even Ethan was taken aback.
"Get lost!" he growled, thrusting forward with deadly precision. BANG! His blade tore through one cleanly, but this time, the system remained silent—no EXP gain.
[Congratulations! Black Knight has leveled up.]
[All stats increased by +2.]
Ethan kept his composure, weaving between the trees at full speed. The horde's numbers were thinning, but he could still sense the low-level sacred beast lurking underground. Whatever he'd done, it clearly wanted him dead.
After a brief moment of thought, he hissed and shouted into the forest:
"Suit yourself—prepare to die!"
With that, he dove straight to the ground. BANG! The sacred wailing worm erupted from beneath, and Ethan struck instantly with the First Dragon Subduing Palm.
CRACK! The blow landed squarely on its head, sending it crashing into a massive tree.
"If this were my former life, you'd already be meeting your maker." Ethan smirked in satisfaction. The beast's hide was thick, but he knew the internal damage was brutal.
---
SHRIIIIEEEEK!
Pain lanced through Ethan's skull—its skill attack. "Damn, how could I forget?!" He quickly summoned Black Knight to intercept.
The armored warrior planted its broadsword like a shield. BANG! The beast slammed into it with full force. Ethan shook off the dizziness and dashed away, now regretting his head-on charge. His mana reserves were dangerously low.
He ran deeper into the forest, pushing himself to maximum speed while Black Knight bought him time. The knight's HP bar was dropping fast—once it hit zero, it would take time to resummon.
"Please… just hold on."
---
BAAANG! SHRIIIIEEEKK!
"What—?! How did it catch up so fast?!" Ethan cursed. But when he glanced back, he froze in shock.
Black Knight was riding the sacred wailing worm. The beast wasn't resisting—it was allowing the knight to sit atop it.
"Since when do you have beast-taming skills…?" Ethan muttered, baffled. Still, he didn't waste time questioning it.
Minutes later, he reached the forest's edge. Before him stretched a vast desert, and far in the distance, a colossal city gate loomed—majestic, yet in ruins.
The air grew heavy, pressing down on him with an invisible weight. Black Knight rode the sacred beast straight toward the gates alongside Ethan.
---
BAAANG!
Without warning, the wailing worm swelled grotesquely and burst apart like an overripe melon, showering the area in gore. Ethan instantly recalled Black Knight.
[Wailing Worm — Low-Level Sacred Beast (Level 13) slain.]
[+30 EXP.]
[Quest Complete!]
[Rewards: 5x Health Potions, 5x Mana Potions.]
Ethan barely glanced at the notifications. Whatever could make a sacred beast explode without even being seen was no joke. Even an Ascended could fall victim.
Sweat beaded beneath his armor as he stepped through the ruined gates. Everything here was on a scale meant for giants. Even the guard quarters beside the gate had staircases so massive he'd need effort just to climb them.
"Were the First Men truly giants? And if so, why is this majestic place in ruins?" He already suspected the answer—gods. The stonework was unlike anything he'd seen before. Even a Supreme would struggle to destroy the city completely.
He steadied his breathing. "Calm down. This is a new path to power—you're not the same as your last life."
Inside, the city was breathtaking despite the decay. Towering buildings, carved with ancient script he'd only seen in the general's barracks and the mysterious hall, loomed over him. The cool, mana-rich air gave the place an otherworldly calm.
[You have entered The City of the First Men.]
[You have entered The Domain of the King Who Wants to Know Tomorrow.]