“We’re going hunting, boys. Let’s see what you two can do now!” He grinned as they headed toward the gate.
Just as they were about to leave, a female lizardman darted in front of him, screeching something before dropping to her knees. The two evolved warriors tried to push her aside, but she held her ground, gripping a spear and ready to fight.
“Look at her. Isn’t she feisty?” Corvin chuckled. “Boys, let her go.” He stepped closer, eyeing the level 18 female.
“You’re weak now, but you want to grow strong, don’t you? That look in your eyes… reminds me of myself. I like that. Come with me, I’ll make you the strongest lizardwoman alive.” He smirked and helped her to her feet.
The two males growled in protest, but Corvin’s cold glare silenced them instantly. “Never question me. Understood?!” His voice cracked like a whip.
With that, the five of them set out to hunt, while two archers kept watch from the tower above them.
***
The group headed north, far from the dangerous cave Corvin had discovered the day before. Along the way, they hunted a few low-level birds and a couple of horned rabbits, easy kills that barely broke a sweat.
Then they found it: deep tracks gouged into the earth, tracks of a huge boar.
Corvin smirked. Finally, something worth hunting. They followed the trail into a small meadow ringed by dense woods where two massive boars were locked in a brutal duel, tusks clashing as they fought for dominance over the clearing.
[Trample Boar Lv. 100] [HP: 9,470 / 10,300] [MP: 340 / 500]
[Trample Boar Lv. 102] [HP: 9,684 / 10,704] [MP: 410 / 500]
“Perfect. Strong enough for good cores, but we need to be careful. No repeat of the bear fiasco.” Corvin muttered, but only Nera understood the meaning behind his complaints.
“Hobfang, Hobscale, follow Nera and take the one on the left. I’ll handle the right. Lady lizard, you stay behind and help if you can; if not, just make sure you survive.” His orders were sharp, splitting the group. The female trembled as the boars’ clash shook the ground.
The beasts slammed into each other again, health bars ticking down. Just as they prepared for another charge, Corvin hurled a spear into the right boar’s back. It sank deep, venom spreading through its veins.
Across the meadow, Nera fired Miasma Beam into the other boar’s hind leg, dropping it to the ground with a pained squeal.
Hobfang and Hobscale roared, crimson runes igniting across their bodies as their strength and speed surged. They dashed in, stabbing relentlessly while Nera unleashed another beam.
Meanwhile, Corvin pulled out Coilbreaker, then used Flurry, carving deep, gushing wounds into his target’s back. The boar shrieked, earth trembling as it turned, body glowing with yellow earthen energy.
Corvin smirked. “Not today.” He dashed aside, dodging the madness-driven charge, and hurled another spear into its spine. The beast stumbled, crashing through a tree before collapsing in a heap, poison and bleeding draining its health fast.
On the other side, the second boar fought desperately, unleashing a quake in a last bid to escape. Nera exploded forward, her serpentine body coiling around its frame as her fangs sank deep into its neck, ignoring the trembling earth and releasing venom into its bloodstream while she crushed its bones.
And just like that, two level 100 beasts fell.
“Smooth! Good job, everyone!” Corvin cheered, storing the corpses and retrieving his spears.
“Two levels up, nice. Though it's less than expected.” He grinned nevertheless, satisfied, saving his stat points for later.
“Alright, rest up. We need at least four more cores around level 100.” He planned to evolve all remaining males and the brave female who followed along. He hoped that one of them would be able to take over as Chief and finish the quest.
***
After a short break, the group pushed further north until they stumbled upon a massive nest inside a hollowed, rotting tree.
Hmmm… what lives here? Corvin wondered, but before he could activate Echolocation, the forest behind them erupted with movement.
Three massive bipedal reptiles emerged, their powerful hind legs pounding the earth. Their forelimbs were smaller but tipped with razor-sharp claws, and their deep viridian scales shimmered under the light. Around their necks, retractable crests flared open like blood-red petals.
[Bloodpetal Raptor Lv. 97] [HP: 9,609 / 9,609] [MP: 480 / 480]
[Bloodpetal Raptor Lv. 91] [HP: 8,481 / 8,481] [MP: 420 / 420]
[Bloodpetal Raptor Lv. 89] [HP: 8,121 / 8,121] [MP: 400 / 400]
“Well, shit! Everyone, gather up! Nera, protect them!” Corvin barked, unleashing Abyssal Dominion.
Thick fog swallowed the woods, and the raptors froze as countless illusions of Corvin flickered around them.
He dashed forward, slashing vigorously as Coilbreaker carved gushing wounds across all three clustered bodies. Then he activated Infernal Hide and Firebend, black flames flickered across his armor before blazing crimson. Flaming whips erupted from the ground, lashing the raptors and searing their flesh, their health dropping fast.
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Corvin deactivated the foggy domain to preserve his mana and continued slashing with Coilbreaker.
[Status: Poisoned | Bleeding I Burning]
[Weapon Effect: Hemorrhage – Bleeding Intensified]
As the fear effect faded, the wounded raptors roared, summoning green vine-like whips that shattered the ground with every strike.
Corvin dodged and shouted, “Now! Make it rain!”
Nera fired three Acid Shots, while the others loosed arrows into scaled hides. One raptor collapsed, barely breathing, sending the remaining two into a frenzy. They lunged at Corvin, hind legs glowing with sharp green energy.
He triggered Aqua Barrier, blocking the first strike, but the shield shattered under the second impact. Swapping Coilbreaker for his greatsword, Corvin’s speed doubled. He locked the last raptor to land in place with Flurry, venom flooding its veins as his final blows shattered bones and set it ablaze.
The beast shrieked one last time before collapsing in twitching agony.
The last raptor tried to flee, only to be impaled by Hobfang and Hobscale, then finished by Nera’s Miasma Beam through its throat.
[Experience gain reduced due to the user’s Constitution and Contribution]
[Experience gained: 3,400]
[Level Up!]
[Your Beast Leveled Up!]
[Experience toward next level: 0%]
Only one level for three kills? Fucks sake. Contribution my ass. I did all the damage... Corvin sighed, still baffled by the experience system, not remembering that the system also took contributions into account in its calculations, no matter how insignificant. He stored the corpses and grimaced.
“Risky fight… and now Abyssal Dominion’s on cooldown for half a day. Dammit.” He pinged the area with Echolocation, making sure the area was clear of enemies.
“Let’s go west, we will circle towards the camp. We might find something else...” His gaze fell on the female lizardman. “You’re the last one.” He was starting to like the feisty lizardwoman; she even shot arrows in the prior fight. He appreciated the weak who didn’t give in.
She grinned, thankful, razor-sharp teeth glinting like steel.
Corvin shivered at the sight and led them away.
***
The group moved quickly, circling through the western woods as they made their way back toward the mountains. Then suddenly, Corvin’s Echolocation pinged something ahead.
“…Oh no.” His frown deepened as he led them northwest. Moments later, the trees parted, revealing a massive, enclosed settlement.
Towering barricades loomed over the forest floor, and at the main gates stood two hulking grey orcs, each bristling with muscle and menace.
[Grey Orc Guardian Lv. 100] [HP: 10,175 / 10,175] [MP: 500 / 500]
[Grey Orc Guardian Lv. 100] [HP: 10,175 / 10,175] [MP: 500 / 500]
If the guards are level 100… I don’t even want to imagine the rest. Corvin’s stomach sank as the system chimed.
Quest Updated: Demise of the Three Generals
The Map of the Forbidden Lair (3/3) is located somewhere within the Orc settlement. Find it!
Side Quest Accepted: Saving Slaves
Orcs are known to take slaves from other races and force them into menial labor, or worse. Rescue the captives and find the one who will lead you to the Forbidden Lair.
“…Sure, sure. What else should I expect from you, system? My old buddy. How about I just go and die?” Corvin spat on the ground, pulling the group back.
“Listen up, none of you is ever to come here. Understood?” His growl left no room for argument.
The three lizardmen nodded quickly, fear etched across their faces. Even a glance at those barricades and the towering guards was enough to terrify them.
They moved fast after that, heading toward camp. But danger wasn’t done with them yet. A massive Storm Swallow swooped from above, its wings blotting out the sun as they strayed into its territory.
Corvin reacted instantly. Miasma Breath tore through the air, striking the bird mid-flight and dropping it before its attack could land, and Nera finished it with a juicy globe of Acid. Corvin didn't let lizardmen touch the last beast in fear of losing experience.
The kill earned Corvin and Nera another level. With that, the group returned to camp, alive, but shaken.
***
By late afternoon, Corvin returned to camp with his hunting party. The air smelled of blood and smoke as he hauled out two boars, three raptors, and the massive bird they’d slain. His blade flashed, carving through flesh with ruthless precision. Piles of meat stacked high, enough to feed the tribe for weeks.
Then Corvin turned, eyes gleaming. “You five, step forward.”
Two boar cores. Three raptor cores. And the last bird core for the brave female.
“Absorb them. We’ll watch.” His voice was calm, but his pulse thundered. This was the moment he’d been waiting for.
The first two males seized the boar cores, and the ground trembled. Their bodies swelled, muscles bulging like coiled steel. Scales darkened to earthen yellow, tusks ripping through their jaws with a sickening crunch.
[Lizardman Tusk Lv. 60] [HP: 3675 / 3675] [MP: 110 / 110]
[Lizardman Tusk Lv. 58] [HP: 3439 / 3439] [MP: 105/ 105]
The next three devoured the raptor cores, and the air shimmered with heat. Their frames stretched taller, leaner, scales shifting to deep forest green. Crimson scales bloomed along their necks like blood-stained flowers. One raised its claw, and vines erupted from the earth, writhing like serpents.
The tribe roared in awe.
[Bloodpetal Lizardman Lv. 60] [HP: 3675 / 3675] [MP: 110 / 110]
[Bloodpetal Lizardman Lv. 61] [HP: 3796 / 3796] [MP: 120 / 120]
[Bloodpetal Lizardman Lv. 64] [HP: 4171/ 4171] [MP: 155/ 155]
Plant magic… incredible. Corvin’s grin widened. Corvin studied all the changes and took mental notes. He still enjoyed learning a lot, and if he could grow stronger while learning, then even better.
Then came the female.
She swallowed the last core, and the sky split with thunder. Lightning exploded around her, arcs tearing through the clouds as a storm gathered overhead. Her body shimmered light blue, tail tipped with jagged spikes crackling with electricity. A single silver horn pierced her brow, runes blazing across her arms like molten silver.
She roared, and a bolt of lightning shot skyward, scattering the clouds in a deafening blast.
Corvin stared, breathless. Holy shit… that’s awesome.
[Voltscale Lizardkin Lv. 64 (Unique)] [HP: 4,171 / 4,171] [MP: 155 / 155]
Corvin threw his arms up, laughter booming across the camp. “Hahaha! I see the way! I finally see the way!” He clapped like a madman, eyes burning with ambition.
“I’ll call you Voltaria, and you’ll be my student!”
The tribe froze. Voltaria tilted her head, tail thrashing playfully. Then she growled one word Corvin could barely understand:
“Husband?”
The camp erupted in cheers. Corvin’s grin died instantly. “No! Not husband!” He grabbed his head, migraine starting to set in as the system chimed.
*** Skill Leveled Up: Lizard’s Tongue Lv. 4 ***
[Due to the user’s massive contribution to the tribe, the skill jumped in levels.]
[You can now understand the lizardmen somewhat.]
Corvin groaned. Great. Now they think I’m marrying a lightning lizard.
But as Voltaria’s horn sparked and the tribe chanted, deep within the forest, a pair of crimson eyes floated in the dark, unblinking. Then, as Corvin’s breath hitched, they melted into the void, leaving only the whisper of leaves and a chill that gnawed his spine.
Skill Leveled Up: Lizard’s Tongue Lv. 1 > Lv. 4
By the way, 2 chapters tomorrow!
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