Kael sat beneath the shade of a wide tree just outside Wrenvale, legs crossed and interface open. He had leveled up again after helping to repel the shadow beasts.
Available Stat Points: 6
He took a moment to think. He had been focusing on strength, and while it was slowly paying off, he still felt there was room for improvement.
He placed 5 points into Strength, bringing it to 35—another milestone. The difference wasn't dramatic, but it was noticeable. He could lift more, carry for longer, and his body felt steadier when striking with force. The last 1 point went into Dexterity, his first real step into enhancing speed and reflexes.
Strength: 35
Dexterity: 25
Afterward, he resumed his routine in the village. Helping chop firewood. Gathering herbs. Fixing broken carts or tools with careful hands. The villagers had grown warmer toward him—especially after he risked himself for them—but he kept a respectful distance. There were boundaries.
Balen approached one day and handed Kael a small hunting knife. "Just in case," he said.
Kael bowed his head in thanks, examining the tool. It wasn't enchanted or ornate, but it was well-balanced, sharpened from years of care. He practiced with it often, learning how it felt to have a weapon in his hand.
Each afternoon, he worked alone near the stream or among the trees, activating Omni-Vision and honing his teleportation. He focused on manipulating smaller and smaller targets—individual droplets of water, fragments of dust, even stray strands of grass. The smaller he went, the more precise he had to be, relying on Omni-Vision to break down the world into particles and flows.
It was mentally draining, but progress came in slow, satisfying pieces.
One evening, Kael found Balen sitting on a log sharpening a blade. He sat nearby and asked, "Those shadow beasts—what are they?"
Balen's face darkened slightly. "Magical beasts that've gone wrong. Corrupted by something. No one knows what. They don't act like normal animals. They kill without purpose and don't stop until they're dead."
"Has it always been that way?" Kael asked.
Balen shook his head. "No. It started maybe two or three years ago. Before that, shadow beasts were rare. Now... they're spreading."
Kael absorbed that in silence. It was troubling—and important.
He glanced at the knife Balen had given him, then at the faint shimmer of evening sun through the trees. He still didn't know why he was here. But he was starting to believe it wasn't by accident.