The world was silent.
The divine Garuda was back on his realm, leaving only the cold, pre-dawn air and the faint light of the stars. Kael remained on his knees, his body a paradox of crippling exhaustion and a surging, unfamiliar power. The system windows had faded, but the words were seared into his memory.
My King.
The weight of that single, spoken word was heavier than the entire mountain.
Gulp.
He swallowed, the sound loud in the stillness. A king? He was a student who, less than two days ago, was worried about final exams. Now, a living god had knelt to him.
He pushed himself to his feet, his newly enhanced muscles groaning in protest. His eyes fell upon the single object left on the shattered stone where Torpor had been erased.
[Core of the Ancient Beast].
He picked it up. The crystal was cold to the touch, unnaturally so, and it seemed to absorb the light around it. A faint, violet energy pulsed within, and he could feel a malevolent, silent power emanating from it. It felt wrong. Alien.
A new notification appeared.
[Item has been stored in your inventory.]
Inventory?
He focused his will, and a new window, a simple grid-like interface, appeared. The [Core of the Ancient Beast] occupied the first slot. Another tool he didn't understand.
He looked around the summit, at the massive pillar toppled by his strategy, at the craters blasted into the ancient stone. The evidence of his battle was everywhere.
It was time to go.
The descent was different. The oppressive dread that had clung to the mountain was gone, replaced by a clean, sharp silence. His new stats were not just numbers on a screen; they were a tangible reality. The darkness was no longer a veil; his vision pierced it with an unnatural clarity. His footing was sure, his balance perfect, his body moving with a strength and grace that hadn't been there hours ago.
But with every step down, the title echoed in his mind.
King.
What does that even mean? He wasn't a ruler. He was a survivor. A student who had been thrown into a war he never asked for. Garuda had pledged allegiance, but what about the others? The hint from the Codex was clear. He had to find six more pantheons. Six more sets of ancient, prideful, powerful beings.
Would they all kneel? Or would they try to kill him?
He reached the base of the mountain as the first hints of dawn began to paint the eastern sky. The mundane world felt like a distant dream. He pulled out his phone. The screen felt strange in his hand, a flimsy piece of human technology. He booked a ride-share, the process so normal it was jarring.
The long drive back to Depok was a blur. The sun rose, casting a golden glow over the rice paddies and villages they passed. The world was waking up, oblivious to the battle that had just been fought for its existence.
He arrived in his neighborhood as the morning call to prayer echoed from a nearby mosque. The streets were coming alive with people heading to work, to school, to the market. They were all living in a world he no longer fully belonged to.
He stood across the street from his house, the warm light in the kitchen window a beacon of a life that was rapidly slipping through his fingers.
He had left this house as a student, running for his life.
He was returning a slayer. A king. A liar.
He took a deep breath and walked toward the front door, ready to put his mask back on.
He stepped through the front door. The smell of his mother's cooking filled the air. Normal. The sound of the TV from the living room. Ordinary.
It all felt like a world away.
"Kael! You're back," his mother, Emi, called from the kitchen. "You look exhausted."
"Brutal session," he said, the lie coming easier this time. He didn't meet her eyes. "Going to crash."
He didn't wait for a reply. He just moved, taking the stairs two at a time. He could feel their eyes on his back. A family of strangers. Right now, acting normal was the hardest fight of all.
Click.
He closed his bedroom door, sealing himself in.
Thump.
His backpack hit the floor. He fell onto his bed, the springs groaning, the adrenaline from the hunt finally bleeding out of him.
All that was left was a deep, bone-deep weariness.
He stared at the ceiling. The battle replayed in his mind. Garuda's divine power. The falling pillar. The final, blinding flash of light.
Battle analysis: Complete.
Result: Victory.
My contribution: Zero.
The thought was a shard of ice in his gut. He had just stood there, giving orders from the sidelines. A glorified strategist. If Torpor had targeted him first, he would have died. Instantly.
The truth was a bitter pill. His title was a king, but his body was a liability.
I am weak.
The moment the undeniable thought crossed his mind, a familiar sound echoed in his head.
Ding!
A golden window shimmered into existence before him, its text appearing line by line.
[Analysis Complete: User's combat potential is critically low.]
[The vessel is too fragile to handle higher-tier summons or direct physical threats.]
A new notification flashed below.
[A new Growth Quest has been generated.]
The Vessel's Foundation
Description: A King's authority is absolute, but a king who cannot defend his own square of land is no king at all. You must build a foundation of martial prowess to survive when your summons are not enough.
Main Objectives: [Martial Skill Acquisition]
[ ] Master the fundamentals of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA).
Reason: Provides a comprehensive understanding of modern, real-world striking and grappling. Maximum adaptability.
[ ] Master the fundamentals of Krav Maga.
Reason: Focuses on brutal efficiency, aggression, and survival instinct for close-quarters combat.
[ ] Master the fundamentals of Silat.
Reason: A fluid and deceptive close-quarters art specializing in explosive strikes, joint locks, and a seamless flow between unarmed and bladed combat.
[ ] Master the fundamentals of Kalaripayattu.
Reason: An ancient and fluid martial art that provides the ultimate foundation for both unarmed and a wide array of weapon-based combat, enhancing flow and flexibility.
[ ] Master the fundamentals of Kenjutsu.
Reason: Develops absolute mastery and precision with a blade, focusing the user's will into a single, perfect strike.
[ ] Master the fundamentals of Modern Firearm Tactics.
Reason: In an era of technology, mastery of ranged projectile weapons is a tactical necessity. Covers precision marksmanship and close-quarters firearm combat.
Side Quests: [Physical Conditioning]
[Side Quest: The Body of a Warrior]
Objective: Complete the [Strength and Conditioning Program] daily.
Note: Directly improves base Strength and Stamina stats.
[Side Quest: The Unbreakable Heart]
Objective: Complete the [High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT)] program three times a week.
Note: Greatly improves base Stamina and Agility stats.
Quest Rewards:
Unlock of the [Combat Skill] tab.
Significant increase in all physical stats.
New Title: [Master Combatant]
Kael's eyes scanned every line, his exhaustion forgotten, replaced by a surge of electrifying focus. The Codex hadn't just identified his weakness; it had given him a solution. A grueling, comprehensive, and brutally clear path to power.
But how? I can't just sign up for a gym.
As if reading his thoughts, the window updated.
[To facilitate this quest, a new function has been unlocked.]
[Welcome to the Training Grounds.]
[Would you like to enter?]
[Y / N]
A slow, determined smile spread across Kael's face. He was tired. He was in over his head. But for the first time, he saw a clear path to becoming more than just a voice giving orders from the back line.
He focused his will, his finger reaching out in the empty air.
He pressed [Y].