The warehouse stood at the far edge of the camp.
Quiet. Reinforced. Isolated for a reason.
The moment Zael stepped inside—he felt it.
A dense accumulation of residual energy.
Beasts.
Dozens. Hundreds.
Even after death, they radiated power.
Zane let out a low whistle.
"…This place is basically a graveyard of monsters."
Lily's gaze swept across the rows of corpses before she replied softly,
"…No. It's a resource vault."
Zael said nothing.
His eyes moved—systematic, calculating.
Tier one.
Tier two.
And then, sectioned off—
Tier three.
Including the Thunder-Horned Sub-Dragon.
Even in death, it exuded pressure.
But Zael didn't approach it. He didn't touch anything. He didn't react.
Because he wasn't alone.
Footsteps approached.
A middle-aged guard emerged from deeper within the warehouse, calm and observant. His eyes lingered briefly on Zael before shifting to the pile of assigned corpses beside him.
"So you're the one Captain Kael approved."
Zael nodded.
The guard didn't ask questions. Didn't probe. He simply reached into his coat and brought out a ring.
Simple. Dark. Unadorned.
"Temporary storage ring," he said, tossing it lightly.
Zael caught it.
"Linked to your allocation. It'll only accept what's been approved for you. And it'll return to the warehouse system in a week."
Zane leaned in slightly.
"…We're just handing out spatial artifacts now?"
The guard ignored him.
"Make it quick."
Zael nodded once.
Then he moved.
Efficient. Precise.
One by one, he placed his hand on each corpse.
And willed it.
The bodies disappeared, pulled into the ring.
No energy fluctuation. No devouring. No reaction.
Just storage.
Ten tier two beasts.
Then he stopped before the tier three section.
The guard's gaze sharpened slightly.
"…Careful with those."
Zael didn't respond.
He stepped forward and placed his hand on the Thunder-Horned Sub-Dragon.
For a brief moment, the air stilled.
Then it vanished.
Even the guard's expression shifted slightly at that.
"…Not bad."
Zael moved to the second tier three and stored it just as easily.
Done.
Zane scratched his head.
"…You're really just going to carry all that around?"
Zael turned.
"Yes."
Simple. Final.
Lily studied him carefully. She didn't ask, but her silence was heavier than questions.
Because she knew.
He was waiting.
Waiting for the right moment. The right condition.
To do something he didn't want anyone to see.
Back at the villa, the sun had begun to dip, golden light filtering through the windows.
Zane stretched as he dropped onto the couch.
"I'm starving."
Lily sighed.
"You're always starving."
Zael walked past them without a word and entered his room. The door closed softly behind him.
Silence.
Absolute.
Zael stood still for a moment.
Then he raised his hand. The storage ring glinted faintly.
His eyes darkened slightly.
Now he was alone.
No eyes. No interruptions. No variables.
Only him—and the corpses.
Slowly, he exhaled.
"…Let's begin."
The ring pulsed.
A tier two beast corpse dropped onto the floor with a dull, heavy thud.
Lifeless—but still filled with energy.
Zael stepped forward. His hand rose.
Then he placed it on the corpse.
Devouring activated.
The moment it began, his expression sharpened.
Because unlike before—
This time—
He wasn't holding back.
------
The moment his palm made contact—
The corpse collapsed inward.
Not physically—but spiritually. Its essence unraveled.
Energy surged into Zael. Wild. Unrefined. Violent.
His veins lit faintly beneath his skin. His muscles tensed.
But he didn't pull back.
He leaned into it.
You have devoured: Tier 2 Beast (Stonefang Brute)
EXP gained: 2,400
Total EXP: 21,040 / 23,000
You have gained:
+12 Strength
+18 Endurance
+6 Agility
The energy settled quickly.
Zael exhaled.
Weak.
Not enough.
Without hesitation, he summoned the next corpse. It dropped to the ground with a dull thud. His hand pressed down again.
Devouring activated.
Faster. Cleaner.
You have devoured: Tier 2 Beast (Ironhide Lurker)
EXP gained: 2,100
Total EXP: 23,140 / 23,000
A brief pause—
Level Up!
Level: 24
A controlled surge flowed through him, not explosive but perfectly regulated.
All attributes increased via Balance.
Zael's gaze sharpened.
He didn't stop.
The third corpse was devoured. Then the fourth. Then the fifth—each one collapsing into nothing but fuel.
You have devoured: Tier 2 Beast
EXP gained: 2,300
Total EXP: 2,300 / 24,000
You have devoured: Tier 2 Beast
EXP gained: 2,200
Total EXP: 4,500 / 24,000
You have devoured: Tier 2 Beast
EXP gained: 2,500
Total EXP: 7,000 / 24,000
You have gained:
+9 Strength
+7 Agility
+14 Endurance
+11 Intelligence
His breathing deepened slightly.
Energy layered within him, refining and condensing with each absorption.
Then came the sixth corpse.
The moment his hand touched it—
Resistance.
A subtle but undeniable pushback.
Zael's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…Interesting."
His internal energy surged, crushing the resistance instantly.
You have devoured: Tier 2 Elite Beast (Venomshade Panther)
EXP gained: 3,100
Total EXP: 10,100 / 24,000
You have gained:
+15 Agility
+8 Strength
Poison Resistance acquired (Lv.1 → 3%)
A ripple passed through his body and stabilized almost immediately.
Then—
Skill acquired: Venom Claw
Category: Attack (Active)
Grade: Rare
Effect: Imbues strikes with toxin, dealing 220% physical damage + poison damage equal to 35% attack power over 5 seconds
Mana Cost: 40
Cooldown: 25 seconds
Zael's eyes flickered once.
Without hesitation—
Supreme Blessing activated.
Before Upgrade — Venom Claw (Rare):
220% physical damage + 35% poison over time
The skill trembled as light warped around it, restructuring its very foundation.
After Upgrade — Abyssal Venom Sovereign Claw (Legendary):
Category: Attack (Active)
Effect: Delivers a strike dealing 950% physical damage + 320% corrosive venom damage over 8 seconds
Ignores 40% defense
Inflicts Toxin Erosion (reduces target regeneration by 60%)
Stacks up to 3 times
Mana Cost: 120
Cooldown: 40 seconds
The transformation completed.
Zael exhaled slowly.
Stronger. Significantly stronger.
The remaining Tier Two corpses were devoured in quick succession.
EXP gained: 2,200
Total EXP: 12,300 / 24,000
EXP gained: 2,400
Total EXP: 14,700 / 24,000
Silence returned to the room.
Only five corpses remained.
Tier Three.
The air itself seemed to grow heavier.
Zael stepped forward.
The first Tier Three corpse dropped to the ground, massive and dense with power. He placed his hand on it.
Devouring activated.
The reaction was immediate.
Violent.
Energy didn't flow—it exploded into him.
His bones creaked under the pressure. His muscles tightened instinctively.
But he endured.
Controlled it.
Refined it.
You have devoured: Tier 3 Beast (Abyssal Fang Serpent)
EXP gained: 9,800
Total EXP: 24,500 / 24,000
Level Up!
Level: 25
Remaining EXP: 500 / 25,000
A deeper, denser surge followed.
You have gained:
+28 Strength
+22 Agility
+31 Endurance
+35 Intelligence
Then—
Skill Fragment detected…
The energy condensed, forming something new within him.
A skill.
Zael didn't check it.
Not yet.
Because four remained.
The second Tier Three beast was devoured.
Then the third.
Then the fourth.
Each one adding to the storm building inside him.
EXP gained: 9,200
Total EXP: 9,700 / 25,000
EXP gained: 10,100
Total EXP: 19,800 / 25,000
EXP gained: 9,600
Total EXP: 29,400 / 25,000
Level Up!
Level: 26
Remaining EXP: 4,400 / 26,000
His aura deepened.
Sharper. Denser. More dangerous.
Only one corpse remained.
The Thunder-Horned Sub-Dragon.
It lay there silently, yet even in death it dominated the room.
Zael stepped closer.
Slow. Measured.
His heartbeat steady.
His hand rose—
Then stopped.
For the first time since this began—
He felt something different.
Not danger.
Not fear.
Recognition.
A faint pulse echoed—either from the corpse… or from within himself.
"…What are you?"
No answer came.
Only silence.
Then—
He placed his hand on it.
Devouring activated.
ERROR.
Zael's pupils shrank instantly.
Unknown energy signature detected.
The corpse responded.
A deep, ancient rumble echoed—not in the room, but within his very consciousness.
Zael's body locked in place.
Because this time—
He wasn't consuming it.
It was responding.
And then—
A blinding arc of lightning tore across his mind.
[END OF CHAPTER]