...
{3rd Pov}
Ember gazed at his final parameters after the recent update, taking a moment to internalize the changes and appreciate the growth he had achieved.
[Level 2
Strength: D665-->702
Endurance: D678--->C701
Dexterity: B899--->A905
Agility: C748--->B802
Magic: B876--->A903
Development Abilities:
Mage: H
Mystery: H
Skills:
Decipher: Helps the user Decipher the truth, theorems, and workings of the world through logic, prediction, and guess.
Limit Breaker: Enables the user to permanently surpass the normal upper limits of ability parameters and break through boundaries set by the Falna system.
Double Croissance: The user's rate of Falna growth and acquisition of abilities is doubled under all circumstances.
Orc Slayer: Grants twenty percent buff in all parameters against pig-like monsters.
Eagle's Eye: Enhances visual perception, allowing improved accuracy and range.
Magic:
Cremation (Chant): "O'Flames of Legends! Burn brighter than thy enemy! Turn them into cinders! Let their Ashes wash in your blue flames! Cremation!"
Cure-Se (Chant): "Devoid of any injuries and poison, Heal Mine self!"
Magic Grimoire: A magic that allows the user to copy and store any spell he witnesses being cast, effectively giving him the ability to learn and reproduce it later.]
During the one-week-long familia expedition, Ember had pushed himself to the absolute limit, hunting relentlessly and taking on multiple dangerous monsters, including several Level 2 foes, all on his own.
He only allowed himself a few hours of rest each day, maximizing every moment to ensure the safety of Shawn Village and its surrounding lands.
His unmatched combat efficiency and the flawless execution of his skills had made him an unstoppable force during the expedition, leaving his fellow adventurers and villagers in awe of his prowess.
Now, a full month had passed since his return to Shawn Village.
After the grueling week of monster hunting, Ember had spent the following two weeks dedicating his time to helping the villagers and supporting his familia.
Whether it was training new adventurers, reinforcing the village's defenses, or assisting in day-to-day tasks, he remained an indispensable presence.
Of course, he also made sure to spend precious moments with his goddess, Aurora, cherishing the time they shared together.
These days were filled with a balance of responsibility, combat preparation, and personal connection, allowing Ember to grow stronger, both in ability and in bonds with those around him.
The month had been intense, productive, and rewarding in every sense.
Now, Ember was preparing to depart for Altena again the next day, and he had meticulously completed all of his preparations in advance.
Among these preparations, the most important task he had undertaken was the creation of a brand-new Status Updater, crafted using the blood of Goddess Aurora herself.
He deliberately refrained from conducting any experiments to enhance or modify it, meaning that, as before, the Status Updater would only function for him personally.
Its functionality remained straightforward: it would only update his Status sheet without imposing any restrictions or locking it in any way, as only the act of updating the Status was recorded.
The reason behind this decision was simple and practical.
Even though Aurora was a Goddess, she was currently inhabiting her mortal shell.
Any attempt to extract her blood in order to enhance the device would still physically affect her, simulating a state of weakness in her body.
Ember had no clear method to improve this process without risking harm, and conducting experiments would require both a significant quantity of her blood and an extensive amount of time.
Not willing to cause any unnecessary harm to Aurora, even when she insisted that he could "suck her dry," he chose not to push the matter further and prioritized her safety over potential optimization.
Ahem
With the Status Updater complete, Ember proceeded with the final update of his parameters.
Observing the results, he felt a quiet sense of satisfaction.
While the increase was not groundbreaking or revolutionary, the fact that his parameters had advanced into the next rank was already a significant accomplishment.
It was particularly impressive considering that his parameters were already exceptionally high, and the only major combat experience contributing to this growth had been the intense, week-long expedition he had undertaken alongside the Aurora Familia.
The improvement was steady, meaningful, and fully justified the effort he had invested into both preparation and combat.
"Again, your single month's worth of Falna gain is more than what I have ever seen in any other member of my Familia," Aurora said, leaning toward him with ease, her movements fluid and confident.
She allowed herself to be close to him, her presence radiating both warmth and desire.
"This time… for how long will you be away?" she asked, her voice lowering into a purr, her intentions obvious—she was clearly in the mood to share one last intimate moment with him before his departure.
"I cannot say for certain," Ember replied calmly, his tone measured and serious.
"It might be one year… or perhaps even two years."
At his words, Aurora's expression fell.
The weight of his reply struck her unexpectedly; she had known in her mind that he wouldn't return soon, but hearing it spoken aloud still stung her heart.
'It is truly amusing, isn't it?' Aurora thought silently, her mind reflecting on the irony of her situation.
'I am a million-year-old Goddess. For me, a thousand years pass by in the blink of an eye, yet having to be separated from Ember for a single year affects me so profoundly.'
She exhaled softly, a mixture of frustration and longing in her gaze.
Despite knowing that Ember, being mortal, would inevitably face the limits of his lifespan, her thoughts remained more concerned with the present ache of separation than with the distant certainty of his mortality.
Aurora also knew that Ember was an Elf, a race known for their remarkable longevity.
He would live many decades, perhaps even centuries, before his natural life drew to a close.
By that time, she was confident that she would have devised a solution to ensure the village would be cared for and protected in her absence.
Yes, she had already made a firm decision in her mind.
When Ember eventually reached the end of his natural life due to old age, she would follow him to Tenkai, ensuring that he could not undergo the cycle of rebirth and would remain with her.
She intended to stay by his side for eternity, living with him forever in the heavens.
Although such an action would be considered illegal—since mortals were bound by the natural cycle of reincarnation—Aurora did not care in the slightest.
If it meant keeping Ember close, she was ready to shake the very foundations of the heavens themselves, challenging the natural order to ensure he would never leave her side.
Ember, completely unaware of the depth of the decision his Goddess had made and how far she was willing to go for him, simply smiled and reached out to pat her gently.
"Don't worry, Goddess," he said, his voice calm yet commanding, as he carefully pushed her back against the bed.
He pressed his lips to the nape of her neck, eliciting a soft, involuntary moan from her as she shivered under his touch.
"I will make sure you have yet another unforgettable night," he mused, a subtle grin forming on his face as he moved with deliberate precision.
Soon, the room was filled with the passionate sounds of their bodies colliding, the rhythm of flesh against flesh, and the desperate, heated moans of mutual desire.
Every touch, every movement, seemed to imprint itself in their memory, marking another night neither of them would ever forget.
...
The next day, after sharing one last passionate and lingering kiss with Aurora, Ember prepared to depart for Argon Town.
After all, there was no possibility of securing a direct ride to Altena from the Shawn Village.
He set out alongside another member of his familia, who coincidentally was traveling to Argon Town to purchase basic supplies.
The journey, though relatively uneventful, took two days, and upon arriving in Argon Town, Ember took some time to enjoy a small reunion with his friends, sharing food, laughter, and conversation before turning his attention to the main objective: finding a reliable way to reach Altena.
Unfortunately, his search proved to be more challenging than he anticipated.
There were no merchants traveling directly to Altena, nor were there any travelers willing to provide passage in that direction at the moment.
The best option he could find was a merchant who was heading toward Karuna, a bustling city situated near the Alf's Forest.
Karuna was well-known as a major hub for merchants and travelers moving to various parts of the continent, and Ember reasoned that from there, he would have a high chance of securing a wagon or caravan heading directly to Altena.
Accepting this as the most viable route, he decided to make a planned stop in Karuna before continuing his journey.
Being the meticulous and overly cautious individual he was, Ember took additional precautions to ensure his anonymity.
He dyed his hair once again, covering the previous color, and wrapped a scarf around the lower half of his face, taking care to conceal his features as much as possible.
He knew that Karuna attracted a large population of elves from the Wishe and Alf's Royal Forest, and he did not want to run into anyone who might recognize him.
Even a brief encounter could draw unwanted attention and complicate his plans.
With his preparations complete, Ember bid his friends a heartfelt farewell, expressing gratitude and promising to return safely.
He then departed toward Karuna City, fully unaware of the unexpected events, challenges, and encounters that awaited him in that city, each of which could alter the course of his journey in unforeseen ways.
...
A small child ran frantically through the narrow, chaotic streets, his tiny feet pounding against the hard ground.
Each step sent sharp pains through his little legs, yet he refused to slow down, refusing to stop for even a single moment.
Tears streamed uncontrollably down his cheeks, mixing with the dirt and dust that covered his face.
"Don't look back… don't look back!" he muttered to himself over and over, his voice trembling with raw fear.
His heart pounded violently in his chest, and his entire body shook as panic consumed him.
He was terrified—absolutely terrified—and he knew instinctively that the instant he stopped running would be the instant his life would be at risk.
Every instinct screamed at him to keep moving, to put one foot in front of the other, no matter how exhausted or wounded he felt.
"M-Mommy! Papa!" he cried out, his voice cracking with desperation as memories flashed through his mind.
He remembered his father, who had sacrificed himself to hold back the monsters that had attacked them, buying enough time for his mother and himself to escape.
And he remembered his mother, who, just like his father, had stayed behind to fend off the remaining monsters, risking her life to protect him.
A closer observer might have been struck by the child's tender age.
He was only three years old, still so small and fragile, barely more than a toddler by the standards of Ember's old world.
At that age, he should have been playing happily with other children, eating meals being fed by his mother, or laughing as he sat perched safely on his father's shoulders.
Yet now he was being forced to run for his very life, his tiny feet aching painfully with every step.
Even though the children in this world matured physically faster and his body had the size and strength comparable to a six-year-old, it was still an extreme and exhausting ordeal for him to run for what felt like miles.
His legs ached, his muscles screamed for rest, and every fiber of his small body begged him to stop—but he could not.
He continued running, refusing to give in to the pain, even as his exhausted body screamed in protest.
It wasn't just raw adrenaline driving him forward.
It was the memory and sacrifice of his parents etched deeply into his young heart, the indelible imprint of their courage and love.
It was the despair and horror he had witnessed at such a tender age, a bitter realization of just how cruel and unforgiving the world could be.
It was a side of life he had hoped to never see, yet one he now faced without choice, forced to confront the merciless reality of survival.
The growls of the monsters behind him grew louder, sharper, more threatening, spurring him to push himself even harder.
His legs were already red and raw from exhaustion, his soft, delicate feet bleeding from the constant pounding against the rough ground, yet he refused to yield.
He didn't want to die, even though he could barely comprehend what death truly meant.
More than that, he refused to dishonor the sacrifice of his parents, who had given everything—their lives, their safety—so that he could have a chance to live.
At this moment, he was unquestionably fighting for his life, battling for the only chance his parents had left him, clinging desperately to survival with every ounce of strength he had.
The growls of the pursuing monsters intensified, a horrifying chorus of impending doom echoing in his ears.
Desperation lent him speed, his small legs pumping faster than ever.
But in his frantic flight, disaster struck: his foot struck a protruding stone hidden along the path, sending him tumbling violently to the ground.
The impact knocked the wind out of him as he fell, and the young child lay sprawled on the dirt, completely at the mercy of the horrors that were rapidly closing in behind him.
"Aaaah!" he screamed out in piercing agony, his tiny legs finally giving out after running tirelessly for so long.
Blood trickled down from his battered feet, soaking the hem of his small pants and leaving dark streaks on the dirt beneath him.
Desperately, he tried to use his hands to drag himself forward, his palms scraping against the rough ground, but every movement seemed futile.
The growls behind him had grown louder, sharper, more terrifying, and each one sent a wave of pure terror through his small body.
He dared to glance over his shoulder and froze in sheer horror.
A relentless horde of goblins was closing in, their sharp teeth bared, eyes gleaming with malice.
They had clearly marked him as their prey, recognizing him as weak and defenseless.
For a child barely three years old, they were a merciless force of death.
The goblins themselves were some of the slowest and weakest monsters, the kind that even a fully grown adult could handle with relative ease—but for someone so young and frail, the outcome was inevitable.
Tears streamed down his dirt-streaked cheeks as he felt the crushing weight of fear pressing down on him.
'I don't want to die! I don't want to die!' he thought frantically, his chest rising and falling in frantic, uneven gasps.
Summoning the last ounce of strength he could muster from his tiny, exhausted body, he threw his voice into the forest with desperate urgency.
"Pleasssseeeee! Saveeee meeee!" he cried, his voice cracking and echoing wildly between the trees, a desperate plea that seemed to carry the raw terror and hopelessness of a child who had no one else to rely upon.
The goblins cackled maniacally, relishing the terror and pain radiating from the boy as they crept closer with sadistic delight.
The boy instinctively raised his tiny hands to shield his face, but it was no use.
A goblin lashed out with his feet, slamming him to the ground with brutal force.
Another goblin leapt onto his back, laughing wildly, wielding a jagged bone dragger that it swung viciously toward his fragile, quivering face.
Pinned beneath the weight of the goblin's legs, his hands were pressed into the dirt, leaving him completely defenseless.
The bone dragger slashed across his cheeks repeatedly, each strike tearing through his skin and drawing a scream of agony from his tiny throat.
The goblin seemed to delight in the boy's terror, savoring each scream, each futile attempt to wriggle free and escape.
Just as the creature prepared to drive the weapon into the child's eyes, a sudden, horrifying motion occurred.
The goblin's head rotated unnaturally, a full 360 degrees.
Confused and momentarily stunned, it watched its own body collapse violently onto the boy, a gushing fountain of blood erupting from its severed neck.
The head then fell to the ground with a thud, lifeless.
Within mere seconds, all of the goblins surrounding him met the same fate.
One by one, each of them fell to a single, precise swing of a sword, their bodies crashing to the forest floor in a grotesque display of violence.
The boy's eyes remained shut, blood coating his face—both from the fallen goblins and from his own injuries.
Weak and exhausted, he let out a soft, pitiful whimper, his tiny frame trembling as the last of his strength ebbed away.
"Disgusting… at least in the Dungeon, those monsters just attack to kill. They don't toy with their prey like this," a voice murmured, feminine and calm, yet carrying a sharp edge of disdain.
"This isn't surprising," another voice interjected, rough and deep, obviously belonging to a male.
"Monsters on the surface have evolved to be far more cunning and cruel than those in the Dungeon. They take pleasure in tormenting the weak before finishing the kill."
"You two, stop arguing!" a third voice barked sharply, cutting through the tension.
"Someone, administer a potion to this poor boy immediately!"
Almost instantly, the boy felt a cool, wet substance splash across his battered face.
Pain shot through him as the mixture—goblin blood mixed with his own—stung his raw, torn skin.
Grey scars formed across his cheeks and forehead, knitting and healing at a superhuman speed, sealing his wounds almost as quickly as they were inflicted.
When he finally opened his trembling, tear-filled grey eyes, he saw four people standing before him.
Two were female, and two were male.
One of the males appeared to be very young, barely fourteen, yet his presence carried a quiet strength and authority, hinting at skill far beyond his age.
"Hey, little guy, what's your name?" the young male asked, flashing a bright, reassuring smile that revealed his shining white teeth.
His attempt at friendliness, however, was immediately interrupted as one of the females, who also appeared quite young—around seventeen—smacked him lightly on the head.
"Idiot! Is that really the first thing you ask a traumatized child?!" she scolded sharply, her tone a mix of exasperation and concern.
She bent down, gently scooping the boy into her arms, cradling him with care.
"Don't worry, you're safe now, my dear… We're from the Zeus and Hera familia."
Her voice was calm yet firm, designed to reassure the frightened child while asserting her authority.
The young male, slightly embarrassed but undeterred, added, "Oh, right… I'm Maxim. What's your name?"
The other two companions, clearly older and more experienced, exchanged exasperated glances and silently groaned, facepalming at Maxim's utter lack of tact.
They had seen it all before—youthful enthusiasm sometimes got in the way of proper sensitivity, especially in delicate situations like this.
"Name?" the boy muttered softly, his brown hair swaying gently in the breeze as the wind brushed against his face.
His mind drifted to the memory of his parents, the horrifying moment when they had sacrificed themselves to protect him from the monsters, and how he had watched them fall, powerless to save them.
Tears welled up in his eyes and slowly trickled down his cheeks as the weight of losing both his mother and father forever pressed down on him.
"Hey! Hey! Don't cry! Don't cryyy! Do you want a toffee? I have one right here!" the young woman holding him exclaimed, panicking slightly as she rummaged through her pockets to find something sweet to comfort him.
"You brought toffees? Seriously?" the older female member standing beside her rolled her eyes, exasperated but not entirely displeased.
Despite the minor squabble, all their attention remained fixed on the boy, who continued to sob quietly in her arms.
Finally, the young woman held the toffee in front of him with gentle insistence, coaxing him to take it.
Trembling, the boy reached out, grabbed it, and placed it carefully into his mouth, chewing slowly.
The sweetness instantly burst across his tongue, momentarily stunning him with its richness.
Although he had eaten sweets before, none had ever tasted this extraordinary.
The sensation of enjoying something sweet after narrowly escaping death was unlike anything he had experienced—it was intensely satisfying, almost comforting, a small warmth in the midst of his fear and sorrow.
"C-Can I… have another one?" the boy asked timidly, his voice still trembling slightly but noticeably calmer now, having finally stopped crying.
His wide, grey eyes fixed on the woman who held him gently, searching her face for reassurance.
She smiled warmly at him and said softly, "Yes, you can have another one… but only if you tell me your name first."
Maxim, standing nearby, raised his eyebrows in disbelief, feeling the sharp sting of irony and injustice at her request.
He muttered under his breath, clearly thinking how unreasonable yet strangely fitting the condition was in the situation.
The boy inhaled shakily, his small chest rising and falling as he mustered the courage to speak.
"Zald," he said finally, his voice a mixture of exhaustion and determination, his young face now marked with the grey scars from the brutal encounter.
"My name's Zald… and… I… I am hungry."
The words hung in the air, carrying both his vulnerability and the raw honesty of a child who had just barely survived a nightmare.
The woman's expression softened even more as she reached to soothe him, preparing to give him another small moment of comfort and nourishment.
...
Ember, having finally arrived at Karuna Town after a long journey, was currently relaxing in a modest tavern, leisurely sipping on a cup of coffee.
The warm liquid and faint aroma of roasted beans provided a small comfort after the fatigue of travel.
He had been planning to leave the town quickly, continuing his journey toward Altena, if not for the unusual circumstances unfolding outside.
For some reason, the city guards had closed the massive gates of Karuna, and the merchant who had hired him to guard his wagon was now stranded, waiting helplessly for the gates to reopen.
Ember's keen senses and sharp instincts immediately picked up on the irregularity.
Something significant had undoubtedly occurred, though, judging by the lack of any public alarm or the sound of horns warning of a monster attack, he suspected that the matter was likely related to a criminal incident or a disturbance within the city itself rather than an outside threat.
Still, the unusual tension in the air made him slightly uneasy.
Alas!
Just as Ember was about to take another careful sip of his coffee, the shrill clang of the city's bells suddenly filled the air, echoing sharply through the narrow streets and alleys.
These were the warning bells, only rung in times of genuine danger threatening the city's inhabitants.
Caught completely off guard by the sudden alarm, Ember choked slightly and nearly spat out the coffee he had been sipping, the bitter liquid splattering across the edge of the table.
His eyes immediately snapped to the tavern's windows as he mentally prepared himself for whatever crisis had just begun in Karuna Town.
"The hell?!" Ember shouted, his voice sharp and incredulous, though no one in the tavern paid any attention to his outburst.
All the other patrons were too preoccupied and stunned by the sudden, deafening clang of the city's warning bells, their faces pale and eyes wide as the reality of the situation sank in.
Ember himself, though momentarily distracted, quickly refocused, his sharp mind already assessing the circumstances.
'You can't be serious… A monster attack? If they knew an attack was imminent, why in the world didn't they warn anyone sooner?' Ember thought to himself, his brows knitting together in frustration as he tried to process the apparent incompetence of the city's governance.
The sheer stupidity of those responsible for public safety struck him as absurd.
It wasn't fear that motivated him, however.
Ember was confident in his own abilities; his physical prowess alone was comparable to that of a Level 3 adventurer, more than enough to handle and even obliterate 90% of the monsters one would commonly encounter on the surface.
As a mage, he was even more formidable, capable of taking on threats far beyond what most could imagine—he firmly believed that, if necessary, he could even fell a Level 4 monster single-handedly.
What truly left him stunned, what made him almost grit his teeth in disbelief, was not the threat itself but the apparent negligence of the city authorities.
They had likely already suspected a monster attack, yet they had chosen not to warn the populace, leaving civilians entirely unprepared for the danger barreling toward them.
To Ember, this lack of foresight was both baffling and infuriating, and he couldn't help but mentally scold those in charge for putting lives at unnecessary risk.
Thankfully, Ember was already fully equipped, donning his expensive, meticulously crafted leather copper-robed armor that provided both mobility and protection, and his trusted weapons—a finely honed sword and his sturdy magical staff—were securely by his side, ready for any encounter.
Without wasting a single moment, Ember bolted outside, his boots pounding against the cobblestone streets, and immediately took in the chaotic scene unfolding around him.
The city was in utter disarray; people were screaming and running in all directions, the air thick with panic and fear.
Some of the guards were shouting orders for all available adventurers to gather at the guildhall immediately, their voices strained with urgency, while others struggled to guide the frightened civilians toward the center of the city, trying desperately to maintain some semblance of order.
It was at that moment, taking in the scale of the chaos and the sheer unpreparedness of the people around him, that Ember realized just how thoroughly screwed his luck had been.
Of all the cities the attack could have happened, of all the moments he could have chosen to relax with a simple cup of coffee in a tavern, this was the exact situation he now had to face.
To be continued…
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