[VotA] Chapter 5 - Level Up (Patreon)

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Before anger could take hold, Mark trembled once more.

Not from the pain or the blood loss, but from something else entirely.

A rush of sensation unlike anything he had ever experienced before coursed through him. His skin tingled, his breath hitched, and he had to consciously fight the urge to roll his eyes back in sheer, overwhelming pleasure.

Then, a golden line appeared before him.

[Level Up]

The text burned into his vision, and immediately, a shimmering wall of golden letters followed as the previous incredible sensation faded away.

[Level 1→2]

[Trait: Ruined Birthright Activated]

[+4 to all stats]

[Class: Mage Activated]

[+2 in Soulforce and +1 in Dexterity]

[Updated Information]

[Name: Mark Raion][Race: Human (Unknown)][Level: 1 → 2][EXP: 0/20][Grade: F][Class: Mage][Title: None]

[TRAITS]

[Ruined Birthright][Inheritance of the Forsaken][Vessel of the Abyss]

[STAT POINTS]

[Hit Points: 05/140 → 45/180][Mana Points: 10/300 → 70/360][Martial (F): 1 → 5][Dexterity (F): 2 → 6][Vitality (F): 4 → 8] [Soulforce (F): 20 → 26]

[SKILLS]

[Basic Mana Flow (E)][Abyssal Engraving (B)]

Mark took his time reading through it all, getting used to the fading rush of pleasure. 

His lips curled into a wry smile.

Glancing down, he saw that his wounds had begun to close, though they still burned. The pain had dulled, but it was still there.

Leveling up wasn't a cure-all, but it seemed close to it.

This is why I wanted you back so badly, wasn’t it, System?

He had almost died. If he hadn't leveled up, if his stats hadn't bolstered his recovery, he might not have survived long after the battle.

A chuckle escaped his lips as he glanced at his tattered robe. Despite being caked in dirt and blood, it maintained its sandy texture.

“Forget two points of Vitality,” he muttered absently, his voice hoarse. “I’ll use anything that gives me an extra point at this stat.”

Mark closed his eyes for a moment, letting himself rest.

But then his eyes snapped open.

He looked down at himself, blinking. Then at the forest around him.

Did my vision improve?

A small, almost childish sense of wonder filled him. Of course, it made sense that increasing his stats would improve his physical body. He had seen the Demon Princess bend reality itself with abilities that defied reason. 

He was even able to use mana to do things that, according to Raion’s memories, it was unseen on Earth.

But for Mark, after so long without a body, this was indeed amazing.

And then he felt it.

His body was heavier.

Still looking down, his breath hitched. His once-soft, bloated stomach had trimmed down. Subtle muscle definition pressed against his skin. His arms, still scrawny, had tightened. 

He wasn’t athletic, not yet, but he looked like someone who at least tried to take care of themselves.

As he observed himself, he noticed other changes. He hadn’t had this body for long, but thanks to Raion’s memories, he recognized that some of its old scars had faded, and a few bones had shifted back into place.

Mark let out a quiet laugh.

I still feel like shit… But that was fun.

He felt that enjoying fighting, or killing, even a little, was probably wrong.

But that wasn’t what made him happy.

I felt alive.

For the first time since he could remember, his life was in his hands.

Even during his final moments against the Demon Princess, his struggle had been less about survival and more about avoiding imprisonment.

But now, fighting was almost exhilarating.

His grin faded as another thought crept into his mind.

I don’t remember when she took me. I don’t know what drew her to me in the first place.

His eyes gleamed.

But I know I’m in the past now.

He gritted his teeth.

I need to grow stronger, faster. And even if she finds me again…

His face turned cold.

I won’t let her take me. Not this time.

Mark’s breath came in sharp bursts, his wounds throbbed, but he pushed through it, forcing himself to move, his fingers digging into the rough bark for support.

Looking over the battlefield of broken trees and torn goblin corpses, he let out a low whistle. However, the moment of amusement faded as his eyes darkened, his face hardening into a stony mask.

It’s not over, he thought, dragging his body forward rather than walking properly. His calves, bitten and torn, were healing, but not fast enough.

The System is amazing. I remember that. But even it follows too many rules.

Mark couldn’t afford to wait for his broken left arm to heal completely, nor for his legs to function at full strength. The battle had been short, but it had made far too much noise.

Considering how long it took for the first scout group to arrive after he had triggered the rune trap, he was certain more would come soon. 

A larger group. Stronger. More cautious. 

Approaching another tree near the battlefield, he forced his injured left arm to move.

“I won’t be able to jump, so you better move,” he growled, glaring at his arm.

Pain flared through his limb, but he ignored it, forcing his fingers against the rough bark. His nails scraped against it, his muscles screaming in protest.

Slowly but surely, he climbed.

It was agonizing. His injuries made each movement clumsy, and for most, it would have been impossible.

But Mark wasn’t like most people.

He gritted his teeth, flexing his fingers as they sank deeper into the wood.

Pushing up, he reached for the next hold. Again and again, he climbed like an animal, his movements uglier than a goblin’s.

“No skill for this, System?” he muttered, forcing out a cold chuckle. “What a sad, sad day.”

After what felt like an eternity, but couldn’t have been more than half a minute, he reached the rune circle.

His fingers, already bloody, twitched with mana as a dark purple glow flickered through them. He worked quickly, adjusting the runes, altering just enough to change the trap’s function.

I don’t have enough mana to repeat my last trick, but this should work. Hell, these freak trees have too much Vitality anyway.

His fingers dragged through the engravings, his breath shallow. The wood felt softer, weaker, and with one final press of his palm, he finished the adjustments.

Then, without hesitation, he let go.

Gravity took him, and his body crashed against the ground. He rolled with the impact, grunting as pain jolted through his limbs, but he forced himself back onto his feet.

His legs still weren’t fully healed, but he didn’t have time to wait.

Steadying his breath, he stumbled toward another tree.

At least now that I know how much lifeforce these damn trees have, he thought, lips curling slightly, Things will be easier.

A golden message flickered into his vision.

[Mana Points: 70/360 → 74/360 → 64/300]

Mark paused, thinking back to his previous mana levels.

It had taken time to move between trees and carve the runes. 

So I recover maybe four or five mana points per minute? he calculated. Good, I think. What about my health?

As if responding to his thoughts, another golden line shimmered.

[Hit Points: 45/180 → 46/180 → 41/180]

It could be worse, he shrugged. Maybe I’m losing HP because I’m still bleeding.

The text faded, and Mark sighed, approaching the next tree, unwilling to admit to himself that the loss of HP could be from falling from the tree.

Once more, he forced himself to climb. Once more, he worked quickly, carving into the bark, altering the rune.

Doesn't matter. Losing one Hit Point, or five. If my plan fails or I mess this up, even having a thousand won’t save me.

—------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Three minutes later, sweat clung to his skin. His arms and legs pulsed with pain, but a satisfied grin stretched across his lips.

Perched atop a thick tree branch, he looked down toward the battlefield where the goblin corpses lay.

Five trees had been altered, now surrounding the corpses like a hidden execution ground.

The wind shifted, carrying the scent of blood and burnt bark. His tattered robe fluttered as he steadied himself.

Then, finally, he narrowed his eyes, seeing movement.

Shadows crept between the trees, cautious yet maybe drawn by the scent of death and, surely, by the triggered traps and missed scouts. Their scrawny green figures moved through the underbrush, yellow eyes scanning the area.

Red text hovered above them.

[Forest Goblin Scout (F) x10]

[Forest Goblin Warrior(F) x5]

[Forest Goblin Shaman (F) x2]

Seventeen enemies.

Mark frowned..

How much is one hundred and seventy divided by four?

He clicked his tongue.

That damn trait is going to cut my experience gain down significantly.

The goblins approached carefully. They spread out, forming a rough perimeter around their fallen kin. Only two moved to inspect the bodies, while the rest kept their weapons ready, scanning the trees for danger.

Mark remained still.

They stepped over the roots and moved between the trees with altered runes.

And then, just as two of them prepared to leave the perimeter, the ground trembled.

A low, deep pulse of red and green light surged beneath their feet.

The goblins screamed in alarm, their eyes darting to the glowing roots.

But there was no time to escape.

Five trees ignited in a violent burst of energy.

The sound was deafening, a thunderous roar that shook the very air, sending shockwaves rippling through the clearing. A wave of heat crashed into Mark, ruffling his robe as he observed the chaos far below.

The goblins barely had time to react before their bodies were shredded.

Splintered bark, sharpened like spears, tore through flesh. The force of the explosion sent limbs flying, bones snapping under the sheer pressure.

Within seconds, the clearing was painted in blood and sap.

Nothing remained but a crater of destruction, smoldering wood, and silence.

Mark smirked.

And then golden letters flickered.

[Killed: Forest Goblin Scout  (F) x10]

[Killed: Forest Goblin Warrior  (F) x5]

[Killed: Forest Goblin Shaman  (F) x2]

[Total Battle EXP Gained: 170 EXP]

[Trait: Vessel of the Abyss Activated]

[Total EXP Gained: 42 XP]

His eye twitched.

It rounded down!

Before he could dwell on it, another notification appeared.

[Level Up]

A shudder ran through his body. His breath hitched. That same overwhelming pleasure rushed through him again, and he let out a low groan, his body tensing as the surge of power coursed through his veins.

[Level 2 → 3]

When the sensation diminished, a new golden message caught his attention.

[Congratulations on Completing the Hidden Quest: Goblin Killer]

His fingers twitched.

Hidden Quest?

[Hidden Quest: Goblin Killer]Kill 20 Goblins on the Tutorial

[Calculating Quest Rewards]

[Reward: Goblin’s Dagger (F)]

Gives the user +1 Dexterity while worn.

[Error]

[Items do not fit User’s Race]

[Changing Items...]

He clicked his tongue, already getting used to it.

The text adjusted itself.

[Reward: Undead Goblin’s Dagger (F)]

Gives the user +1 Soulforce while worn.

A bone-like dagger, marked with a faint green glow, materialized in his hand.

Mark shrugged.

That’s it?

His gaze flickered as more messages appeared.

[Tutorial Race Quests Unlocked]

[Unblocked Quest: Goblin Tribe]

[Entry Quest - Kill Goblin Warriors (F): 5/20][Hard Quest - Kill Goblin Shamans (F): 2/10][Hell Quest - Kill the Goblin Chief (E): 0/1]

Mark smiled.

They’ll keep coming, and they’ll keep dying.

He took his time, moving in a widening spiral, altering each tree he could reach. He avoided the middle, careful not to step on any roots, keeping his traps intact.

Every few minutes, he climbed a tree, waiting. Watching. And then went back to his repeated motions.

But as time passed, the hot day faded into a cold night. His body, despite its strength, began to shiver. The air grew sharp, and his breath turned visible.

No goblins came.

His fingers curled into a fist, his teeth clenched.

The bastards aren’t coming.

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